Deniece grandma says Vhong lawyer manhandled her

MANILA, Philippines - Tension gripped the first hearing day yesterday for the bail petition of Cedric Lee, Simeon “Zimmer” Raz and model Deniece Cornejo at the Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 271 after the model’s 63-year-old grandmother accused the lawyer of actor Vhong Navarro of manhandling her outside the courthouse’s comfort room.

Florencia Cornejo walked out of the courthouse at around 7:15 p.m. during a break in the hearing and tearfully told reporters how lawyer Alma Mallonga allegedly grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her, demanding that she remove her white shirt printed with the statement “Justice For Deniece, Jail the Rapist.”

Cornejo told reporters that her statement shirt was not referring to Navarro but insisted that she was just exercising her freedom of expression.

“It’s my right as a grandmother. I am crushed whenever I see her (Deniece) in jail,” she said in Filipino.

Mallonga, meanwhile, denied the accusation in an ambush interview with reporters later.

“If that is her version, let her be,” she said.

Mallonga said for five straight hours, Navarro was on the witness stand and was directly examined by her. As of 8 p.m. yesterday, the hearing continued with Navarro being cross-examined by defense lawyers.

She said Navarro recounted his experience of allegedly being detained by Cornejo, Lee and Raz and how he was brought to the police station.

Mallonga said the court has set another hearing next week to hear the testimonies of Lee, Cornejo and Raz.

She added that the court has yet to rule on the petition of the accused not to be transferred to the Taguig City Jail inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan.

Illegal detention is a non-bailable offense. However, the court may allow the accused to post bail if the evidence of guilt is not strong.