COMEDIAN and television host Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro is set to be arraigned today on the rape case filed by model Deniece Cornejo before the Taguig city regional trial court.
Taguig RTC Branch 69 Judge Loralei Cruz Datahan directed Navarro to attend the arraignment set at 1:30 p.m.
The court also set the pre-trial of the case on the same date.
The information for rape filed by state prosecutors stated that Navarro “through force, threat and intimidation, and by purposely intoxicating the victim, did willfully, unlawfully and feloniously have carnal knowledge with one Deniece Millinete Cornejo” on January 17, 2014 inside the latter’s condominium unit in Taguig City.
The court has issued a warrant for Navarro’s arrest on September 19. Navarro has surrendered to the NBI and has been kept at the bureau’s detention center since that day.
The crime of rape is a non-bailable offense.
Navarro’s camp has earlier expressed concern for his safety if he is transferred to the Taguig city jail.
Aside from the rape case, Navarro is likewise facing charges for acts of lasciviousness before the Taguig Metropolitan Trial Court, also filed by Cornejo.
Navarro has posted bail amounting to P36,000 for his temporary release for the case pending before the metropolitan court.
