Vhong won't settle case with Deniece, Cedric - lawyer

MANILA, Philippines - Actor Vhong Navarro will not allow an out of court settlement in the grave coercion case he had slapped against model Deniece Cornejo, businessman Cedric Lee, and six others before the Taguig City Metropolitan Court Branch 74, his lawyer Alma Mallonga said Tuesday.

The civil aspect of the case is now undergoing mediation as ordered by the Taguig City Metropolitan Court Branch 74.

“That is not going to happen. Vhong is determined to pursue the case to the end,” Mallonga said.

“But the rules require, with respect to less grave felonies, like grave coercion, that the civil aspect of the case undergo mediation,” Mallonga added.

Navarro did not appear in the first mediation proceeding on Monday. The next mediation proceeding is set at 2 p.m. on July 7. Navarro’s presence was requested in the next mediation.

However, Mallonga maintains that Navarro can participate in the mediation proceeding through his lawyers or representatives and need not appear personally.

“What we are considering or weighing is the necessity of having Vhong appear personally in the mediation proceedings. We agreed to the resetting (of the mediation proceeding) without prejudice to our position that Vhong can participate through his lawyers or representatives,” she said.

“Mediation is a mandatory process which we will comply with. What is the proper subject for mediation is the civil aspect of the case. Vhong is fully committed to pursuing the criminal case for grave coercion against Cedric Lee, et al,” Mallonga added.

Also facing the same grave coercion charge are Cedric’s sister Bernice Lee, Zimmer Raz, Jose Paulo “JP” Gregorio Calma, Ferdinand Guerrero and Jed Fernandez. Calma left the country on  April 10.

Cornejo and Bernice Lee earlier pleaded not guilty to the grave coercion charge while Fernandez was ordered arrested by the court for failing to show up for his arraignment. The court meanwhile entered not guilty pleas for the grave coercion charge for Cedric Lee and Raz during their arraignment.

Cornejo, Cedric Lee and the other accused were slapped by Navarro with grave coercion charges in connection with his mauling on January 22 inside Cornejo’s condominium unit at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

Cornejo is still under the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group at Camp Crame after surrendering to PNP chief Alan Purisima. Bernice Lee and Fernandez meanwhile had earlier posted a P12,000-bail each.  Cedric Lee and Raz are under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation.