Vhong, Deniece skip DOJ probe

MANILA, Philippines – The all-female Department of Justice (DOJ) panel investigating the cases related to the mauling of Vhong Navarro (real name: Ferdinand Hipolito Navarro) began its preliminary probe Friday, February 14, but the key people involved did not show up.

TV host and comedian Vhong Navarro, model-stylist Deniece Cornejo, and businessman Cedric Lee were a no-show. They sent their lawyers instead.

The panel – composed of Assistant Prosecutor Olivia Torrevillas, Assistant Prosecutor Hazel C. Decena-Valdez, and Assistant Prosecutor Marie Elvira B Herrera – took over the investigation of 3 cases related to Navarro’s mauling. The 3 cases are the following:

1. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed a complaint against model-stylist Deniece Cornejo, businessman Cedric Lee and 5 others involving serious illegal detention, serious physical injuries, grave threats, grave coercion, unlawful arrest, and threatening to publish and offer to prevent such publication for a compensation. (READ: NBI files complaint vs Lee, Cornejo)

2. The rape complaint that was filed by Cornejo before the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office on January 29. (Cornejo, however, is yet to re-affirm her affidavit before the DOJ panel.)

3. The obstruction of justice complaint filed by the Taguig police against Mega Force Security Agency, which allegedly refused to cooperate with the police in their evidence-gathering. The agency was in charge of the security force at the Forbeswood Heights Condominium in Taguig City where the mauling took place.

Navarro’s camp said they will be adapting the evidence he filed for the complaints against the 7 suspects as the same evidence they will use for the rape case against him.

Because of this, panel member Herrera said the rape case “is submitted for resolution.”

Arleo Magtibay, who appeared for Cornejo’s camp, said Cornejo chose to attend a separate hearing in a Taguig court for her appeal for a Temporary Protection Order against Navarro.

Navarro was mauled on January 22. The television personality claimed it was an attempt at extortion by the model-stylist Cornejo and businessman Cedric Lee.

Cornejo, on the other hand, said she was sexually assaulted. Her friends were only defending her, she said.

The NBI, which earlier said there is glaring evidence to support Navarro’s claim, provided Cornejo’s camp with Navarro’s supplemental affidavit and copies of the CCTV footages at the Forbeswood Heights Condominium in Taguig City where the mauling took place.

“We haven’t received the supplemental affidavit… If that will be the basis for his response to her affidavit, of course we will have to study it,” said Magtibay. – Rappler.com