DOJ wants Cedric Lee, others arrested

MANILA, Philippines — Businessman Cedric Lee and alleged cohorts in the assault on television host Vhong Navarro have to be immediately arrested, the Department of Justice said.

In a radio report on Wednesday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that the arrest warrant against Lee, his sister Bernice, Simeon Raz, Ferdinand Guerrero and Jose Paolo Calma who face charges for grave coercion have to be served.

Other respondents in the case, namely model Deniece Cornejo and Jed Fernandez, have  posted  their P12,000 bail  before the Taguig Metropolitan Trial Court for their temporary liberty.

Related: Arrest warrant out vs Cedric, Deniece

Cornejo settled the amount on Holy Wednesday, while Fernandez posted bail on Tuesday.

The group also faces a serious illegal detention case--a non-bailable offense--in the  mauling of Navarro last January 22.

The arrest warrant for the latter charge, however, has not yet been issued.

Last, the DOJ indicted Lee, Cornejo and their companions for allegedly forcing Navarro to admit to sexually assaulting the model in her Taguig City condominium unit.

The arrest warrant was then issued last Friday by judge Judge Bernard Bernal of Taguig MeTV Branch 271.

Cornejo's rape complaint against Navarro, meanwhile, was junked by state prosecutors for lacking probable cause.