Contempt rap eyed vs Vhong’s lawyer, wife

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of model Denice Cornejo, who is accusing actor Vhong Navarro of raping her in 2014, is eyeing contempt charges against his lawyer and wife.

Ferdinand Topacio, Cornejo’s legal counsel, said that Navarro’s camp should be held liable for violating sub judice rules as the rape case the model filed against him is pending before the court.

“Now preparing contempt charges against Alma Mallonga and Vhong Navarro’s wife for making statements that are sub judice in nature. We will not sit idly by while some people again make a mockery of justice by having another trial by publicity,” he said in a social media post.

Navarro’s wife, Tanya, has claimed that she fears for her husband’s safety if he is transferred to the local jail.

Navarro surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation, where he is currently detained, after two warrants of arrest were released by Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 69 Judge Lorelie Datahan, who refused bail for the actor.

The Court of Appeals ordered the Taguig prosecutor’s office to file charges after the CA set aside the resolutions by the Department of Justice that dismissed Cornejo’s original complaint.