Vhong Navarro surrenders to NBI

MANILA, Philippines — Actor and television host Vhong Navarro surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday after a Taguig court issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with the complaint for rape filed against him by model Deniece Cornejo in 2014.

Navarro turned himself in to the NBI National Capital Region office in Quezon City.

A warrant of arrest for rape issued by the Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 69 was served on Navarro yesterday afternoon.

Rape is supposed to be a non-bailable offense but bail is allowed if the defendant is able to convince the court that the evidence of the prosecution is weak.

In an order dated Sept. 15, Judge Angela Din of the Metropolitan Trial Court of Taguig Branch 116 found probable cause to hold Navarro for trial for acts of lasciviousness.

Navarro posted P36,000 bail for the acts of lasciviousness charge.

He was ordered by the court to submit photographs showing his front, right and left profiles within five days before the scheduled arraignment.

Alma Mallonga, lawyer for Navarro, said they would file a motion for reconsideration.

Mallonga reiterated that her client is the “victim of illegal detention and grave coercion,” contrary to the claim of Cornejo.

She said Navarro would continue fighting to prove his innocence, which she said is supported by closed-circuit television footage in an elevator on the day the alleged crime was committed.

Navarro said he is open to a dialogue with Cornejo’s camp to drop the cases filed against him.

The actor said he has forgiven Cornejo over their legal tussle. But he said he would never issue a public apology in exchange for a settlement.

Cornejo accused Navarro of raping her on Jan. 17 and 22, 2014.

Navarro claimed that six men, including businessman Cedric Lee, beat him up in Cornejo’s condominium unit, which was recorded on video.

The Court of Appeals had reversed the resolutions issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in 2018 and 2020, which dismissed the charges of rape and acts of lasciviousness filed against Navarro.

The DOJ previously ruled that the complaints lacked probable cause. – Marc Jayson Cayabyab