Judge assigned to Vhong Navarro rape case

MANILA, Philippines — The rape case against actor Vhong Navarro has been assigned to Taguig Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 69 Judge Loralie Datahan.

The case was raffled off on Sept. 8 after the Taguig prosecutor’s office filed charges in connection with the alleged rape of model Deniece Cornejo in 2014.

Assistant City Prosecutor Irish Kay del Valle accused Navarro of using “force, threat and intimidation” in raping Cornejo and purposefully intoxicating her on Jan. 17, 2014, according to information filed before the RTC on Aug. 31.

The prosecutor’s office filed the charges after the Court of Appeals granted Cornejo’s appeal when it reversed and set aside two resolutions by the Department of Justice that dismissed the complaint filed by Cornejo.

Navarro’s camp said they were surprised by the CA decision and called Cornejo’s rape allegation a belated fabrication after a complaint was filed against her for grave coercion and illegal detention.

A Taguig court in 2018 found Cornejo, Cedric Lee and Jed Fernandez guilty of grave coercion after Navarro claimed that he was assaulted and detained in her condominium unit on Jan. 22, 2014 to get him to admit to the rape allegation.