Beauty contestant’s rape case vs Vhong junked

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has dismissed for lack of probable cause a rape complaint filed against television host Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro by bikini tilt contestant Roxanne Cabañero. 

In a 13-page joint resolution issued last Sept. 8 but only received by Navarro’s lawyers on Sept. 30, Assistant State Prosecutor Christine Perolino – who is also the acting city prosecutor of Pasig – said Cabañero’s claim that Navarro raped her while she was inside his car on the night of April 24, 2010 was doubtful.

“A careful examination of complainant’s allegations reveal circumstances that are contradictory, suspicious, and of doubtful nature,” part of the joint resolution read.

Perolino, in particular, questioned how Cabañero could have easily recognized Navarro’s car when she was allegedly fetched by the host from the Astoria Plaza hotel in Ortigas City between 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. last April 24, 2010.

“Complainant admitted that when she boarded respondent’s car, it was the first time that she introduced herself to respondent. However she alleged that when she went down from the hotel for respondent to pick her up, she was able to identify respondent’s car and she was even the one to approach his vehicle. Thus, question arose as how she was able to identify respondent’s car when it was only the first time that she had introduced herself to him when she boarded the respondent’s car,” Perolino said.

In dismissing the complaint, Perolino also questioned Cabañero’s delay in filing a rape complaint against Navarro. 

 “The alleged incident happened in 2010 but it was only in 2014 that complainant filed the rape charge against the respondent…In the instant case, there was no reasonable justification or explanation why it is only now that complainant filed the complaint for rape,” said the resolution. 

Perjury rap dismissed

Meanwhile, Navarro’s perjury complaint against Cabañero in connection with her rape complaint was also dismissed by the DOJ also for lack of probable cause. 

Navarro alleged that Cabañero made false assertions in her complaint-affidavit and in the investigation data form she had executed under oath. 

In her complaint, Cabanero said the alleged rape happened in Pasig City near the Astoria Hotel between 11 p.m. on April 24, 2010 and 1 a.m. the next day. Navarro, however, said that during the time the alleged rape was committed, he was performing at Island Cove in Kawit, Cavite.

However, Perolino said a careful evaluation of the evidence presented showed that there was no sufficient basis to support a finding that Cabañero made a willful and deliberate assertion of a falsehood.

Cabañero had earlier claimed that the perjury complaint Navarro filed against her was premature. She also argued that she could not recall the exact date the rape allegedly happened in 2010.

Another rape complaint filed against Navarro by model Deniece Cornejo was also dismissed by the DOJ.

The judicial dispute resolution (JDR) sessions on the grave coercion case filed by Navarro against Cornejo, businessman Cedric Lee and several others have been ordered terminated by Taguig Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 74 Judge Bernard Bernal.

Navarro’s lawyer, Alma Mallonga, said the last JDR session last Thursday lasted about an hour and a half. Mallonga said the pre-trial for the grave coercion case was scheduled by the court on Oct. 16.