COMEDIAN and television host Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro remained in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation yesterday after he was slapped with another warrant of arrest by a Taguig court, this time for the rape charges lodged by model Deniece Cornejo in 2014.
Navarro’s camp has yet to file a motion for reconsideration of the arrest warrants issued by Taguig Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 116 Judge Angela Francesca Din for acts of lasciviousness and rape issued by Taguig RTC Brannch 69 Judge Loralie Cruz Datahan.
Navarro’s lawyer, Alma Mallonga, said they would also file a petition for bail despite rape being a non-bailable offense.
“Mr. Vhong Navarro, in the meantime, is detained, detained due to an allegation that I can prove he will not be convicted. There is no evidence so the question is, why is he being detained? Why did you push through with the filing of a case and the issuance of a warrant of arrest despite the lack of evidence?” Mallonga told ABC-CBS News Channel.
Mallonga said Navarro, who is detained at the NBI detention facility in Taft, Manila, is “doing well physically” despite the latest turn of events. The case had been dismissed twice by the Department of Justice due to inconsistencies in Cornejo’s statements until the Court of Appeals issued a ruling last month directing the DOJ to file the criminal complaints before the Taguig courts.
Navarro has asked the CA to reverse its ruling but the appellate court has yet to resolve his plea as of yesterday.
“I think physically Vhing is okay. I am confident he is safe with the NBI. That’s the most important thing, his safety. As to the other question if he is doing emotionally well, I am very sure he is not okay,” Mallonga said.
Mallonga said her client will continue the fight to prove his innocence, which she added is supported by CCTTV footage in an elevator on the day in January 2014 where the alleged crime was committed.
“We will continue to do what is necessary. Lalaban tayo,” she said. “He knows he is innocent. He knows he has people who will continue to believe in him and to help him. Life goes on and we will continue fighting.”
Last Monday, Navarro showed up at the NBI after the warrant for the acts of lasciviousness was issued by the MTC. The second warrant was issued past 4 p.m. on Monday.
Mallonga said their camp was surprised with the issuance of the warrants considering they have pending appeals before the CA.
Cornejo’s lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, said his client is determined to push through with the case, adding the only settlement of the case she wanted is when everything has been tried before the court.
