Vice Ganda swears by statement about Vhong Navarro rape case

MANILA, Philippines – In a move to support his colleague Vhong Navarro, comedian Vice Ganda said under oath on Wednesday, February 26 at the Pasig City Prosecutor’s office, that Navarro was with him at a concert in Cavite on April 24, 2010, the night that Navarro allegedly raped beauty pageant contestant Roxanne Acosta. 

Roxanne Acosta is the second to file a rape case against Vhong Navarro, just about month following the incident involving Deniece Cornejo, Cedric Lee, and company. Acosta said that Navarro raped her in April 2010, when Acosta was participating in a beauty pageant. 

April 24 is the date of the rape reported on the unconfirmed affidavit uploaded by veteran police columnist Tony Calvento on Facebook on February 20. 

On the evening of February 26, Calvento also uploaded the affidavit of Vice Ganda (real name Jose Marie Viceral), which was submitted to the Pasig Prosecutor’s office on the same day. The document details the nature of the concert and asserts that Vhong Navarro was present for its duration, well into the wee hours of April 25, 2010.  

Calvento has been following the case closely. Earlier on February 26, he also posted a photo with the following description: “Early morning meeting with Chito Rono and Supt. Oben while waiting for Vice Ganda to bring him to the Pasig Prosecutor’s Office. After a while we finally went to the Prosecutor’s office and Vice Ganda submitted, swore and subscribed that Vhong was in his concert in Island Cove on that ‘rape night’ of April 24, 2010.”

In a separate Facebook post, he also said that Vice Ganda would be submitting his affidavit ahead of the scheduled preliminary investigation because the comedian would soon be going out of town for performances in the US. 

Also on February 26, the comedian posted a tweet saying “In the name of truth.”

In the name of truth.

— jose marie viceral (@vicegandako) February 26, 2014

Vice Ganda and Navarro are both comedians who co-host noontime show Showtime. Vice Ganda and the other stars have expressed best wishes for Navarro and are said to be anticipating his return to the show. – Rappler.com