Vhong to get police protection

MANILA, Philippines - Policemen will secure the house of actor-television host Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro, whose family has reportedly been receiving death threats since the filing of criminal charges against a businessman and several others who beat him up inside a condominium unit in Taguig City, his lawyer said yesterday.

Lawyer Dennis Manalo said Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II made the commitment after a closed-door meeting at Camp Crame. Also present were Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, Philippine National Police deputy chief for operations, and Navarro’s manager Chito Roño.

Roxas and Espina did not face the media after the meeting.

He said Navarro has requested police protection for his family while he remains confined in hospital for treatment of injuries from beatings by businessman Cedric Lee and several male companions inside a unit in Forbeswood condominium in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig last Jan. 22.

Lee had claimed they beat up Navarro after they found him trying to rape model Deniece Cornejo. The latter is included in the criminal complaint filed against Lee’s group by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). She later filed rape charges against Navarro.

“First of all, we express our concern regarding the security of Vhong Navarro and through the PNP we have been advised that they will immediately provide police visibility in the residence of Mr. Navarro to assure that there will be no further threats or any kind of attacks inflicted upon him,” Manalo told reporters.

He said the request for protection was just a precautionary measure and that the actor does not yet feel the need for personal security, even if has been receiving death threats through text messages.

“We also express our concern regarding the use of a gun during the assault on Navarro. We asked for a revocation and we have been assured it will be reviewed, (as wellas ) all the records of all people involved in the incident,” he said.

Earlier, a police official told The STAR that Lee was able to secure license for his Taurus and Glock 9mm from the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) despite his having skipped the required neuro-psychological and drug tests.

Navarro had said that Lee pointed a gun at him during the Jan. 22 incident.

Senior Superintendent Wilben Mayor, spokesman for the chief PNP, said the NBI, which is handling Navarro’s case, should make a formal request for the revocation of Lee’s firearm licenses.

Under Republic Act No. 10591 or the New Gun Control Law, the PNP chief or his representative may revoke, cancel or suspend a license or permit for a gun found used in criminal activities.

“We leave it (revocation of gun license) to the better judgment of the DILG and PNP, we just expressed our concern. They assured us that they will look into the matter and review all the legal angles that are affected by this event,” Manalo said.

He said they also discussed in the meeting the protocol observed in the Southern Police District, where the alleged rape of Cornejo was recorded in the blotter, which Navarro also signed. 

Manalo said he also brought up lapses committed by security personnel in Forbeswood in the handling of Navarro’s case.

“The DILG and the PNP assured us that they will make sure that the security agency is compliant with the laws and regulations regarding their industry,” he said.

The lawyer said Navarro cannot be released yet from confinement “because there are tests still being conducted on the part of his body affected by the assault, particularly his head, back and eyes.”

He also said the rape accusation against Navarro was “totally concocted with no factual basis,” based on sequence of events recorded in the condominium’s CCTV cameras.

“I don’t think this rape case will be favorably acted upon by the prosecution agency of the government,” he said.

Manalo said Navarro failed to immediately seek help from the police for fear of his life.

“At the point in time (at the SPD), he was just beaten up, he was scared, he was afraid, he did not know whether he was talking with the people who are really neutral or people pretending to be police,” he said.

“He was not aware and he was definitely confused and dazed, all he wanted to be sure of is his own safety, he said that there will be a time for him to speak and when his safety is already assured,” he pointed out.

“I think you would understand that anybody who is placed under the kind of situation would also be doubtful of the people round him. He did not know who were these people.”

He also said that while the Supreme Court had ruled many times that no woman would expose herself to humiliation by feigning rape, such rulings were nevertheless based on facts and logic.

“All those rulings are qualified by the SC statement that the testimony of the woman, while significant in any rape case, the testimony must first be conclusive, it must be probable and it must logical,” he said.

“It is not just an accusation but there are tests to determine whether the testimony is true or not,” he added.

He also called on the others involved in the beating of Navarro to show up and cooperate with authorities so as not to complicate matters. “It is better to cooperate with the investigation so they won’t have a  hard time,” he said.

“All the agencies of the government, from DILG, PNP, DOJ, NBI, have assured us they will conduct truthful, impartial and swift investigation of all issues regarding this matter.”