Cedric Lee moved to city jail; Deniece Cornejo to follow?

MANILA, Philippines – Two of the accused in the mauling of actor-comedian Vhong Navarro were transferred to Camp Bagong Diwa on Wednesday afternoon, August 6. 

In a report by The Philippine Star, Cedric Lee and Zimmer Raz arrived at around past 1 pm in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig. 

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) National Capitol Region spokesman Inspector Aris Villaester said the two will stay in separate isolation cells, before being transferred to cells available on either the second, third or fourth floor of the jail building.

“It would be for the warden to decide until when they would be in isolation. This is a reception procedure the BJMP has for every new inmate. During this period, we will be assessing the inmate for any security threat to himself or to any other inmate when he gets transferred to a cell,” he said.

Lee and Raz were previously detained at the National Bureau of Investigation.

In the same report, The Taguig Regional Trial Court branch 271 released a resolution dated June 16 on Monday, August 4, denying the motion of the accused, including Deniece Cornejo, to stop their transfer to the city jail.

Cornejo is currently detained at the Criminal Investigation and Detection group (CIDG) in Camp Crame.

According to Judge Paz Esperanza Cortes, the Bureau of Corrections has the final say on where inmates, whose cases carry a sentence of more than 3 years, should stay. Cortes also said that she personally inspected the jail facilities.

Cortes said the court found that the detained prisoners “no hatred in mind against the accused.” 

Lee and Raz were arrested last April, while Cornejo surrendered to authorities in May. The 3 have been charged with illegal detention.

Deniece reunited with father 

Meanwhile, an ABS-CBN report said that Cornejo still remains at the CIDG, and has not been moved to Camp Bagong Diwa despite the denial of her petition to stop her transfer there. Cornejo, according to another ABS-CBN report, was briefly reunited with her father Dennis on Tuesday, August 5. Deniece’s grandmother and grand uncle were present during the visit.

Rod Cornejo, Deniece’s grand uncle, said that Dennis was working in a ship and was only able to see his daughter upon his arrival. Rod also said they remained hopeful she would remain at the CIDG building where she is presently detained.

Deniece accused Vhong Navarro of raping her inside her condominium at Forbeswood Heights, Bonifacio Global City on January 22. When Lee came in to help her, the actor-comedian was left severely injured. She also claimed that she was raped by Navarro on January 17.

The first rape case has been dismissed by the Department of Justice, while the Taguig Prosecutor’s Office dismissed the second rape charges last July. – Rappler.com