Cedric, Deniece face DOJ, deny Vhong raps

MANILA, Philippines - Businessman Cedric Lee and model Deniece Cornejo appeared at the Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday to answer the criminal charges filed against them stemming from the beating of comedian Vhong Navarro last Jan. 22.

Escorted by lawyer Howard Calleja, they submitted counter-affidavits denying Navarro’s charges of serious illegal detention, a non-bailable offense; serious physical injury; grave threats; grave coercion; illegal arrest and blackmail against them.

The three-woman investigating panel, chaired by Assistant State Prosecutors Olivia Torrevillas, refused to furnish reporters a copy of the documents.

Cornejo and Lee refused to grant interviews to the media and immediately left the DOJ compound after the two-hour hearing.

In an interview, Calleja said the answers of his clients disproved Navarro’s allegations. The lawyer explained that the complainant failed to prove intent in the serious illegal detention charge.

One-minute rape

Calleja also reiterated Cornejo’s claim that Navarro raped her.

“There is a Supreme Court ruling showing that rape can be consummated in one minute. It can also be proven even without medico-legal,” he said.

Two other respondents, Lee’s sister Bernice and Zimmer Rance, also attended the hearing and likewise submitted their answers.

Calleja initially asked for more hearings on the case, but the panel denied them. The preliminary investigation on Navarro’s complaint and Cornejo’s counter-complaint was already terminated.

Another hearing, however, was set on Feb. 28 for the submission of counter-affidavit of the other respondents who failed to appear in the hearing yesterday, including Jaypee Calma and Jeff Fernandez.

Navarro also skipped the hearing. He appeared before the panel last Feb. 6 to affirm his complaint against the respondents.

His lawyer, Alma Mallonga, attended the hearing. In a separate interview, she said they are confident on the outcome of the preliminary investigation in the DOJ. She lauded the panel for refusing to allow dilatory tactics by the other camp.

A question of timing

When asked about a new rape complaint filed by a certain Roxanne Acosta, the lawyer questioned the timing of the new case.

Acosta was interviewed by GMA-7 and did not conceal her identity.

“The timing is suspicious. I hope they (Lee and company) don’t divert the attention of the public and just answer the charges filed against them,” she said. 

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) probers earlier found Navarro’s statement to be consistent with closed-circuit television footage submitted by security office of the Forbeswood Heights Condominium Tower 2 where the incident took place.

A video showed Navarro – in a bull cap – leaving the building with his hands tied behind his back, along with eight people, including Lee and Cornejo at around 11 p.m. last Jan. 22.

Navarro claimed that the respondents beat him up and tried to extort up to P2 million from him while he was in Cornejo’s unit at the Forbeswood Heights condominium in Taguig City.

Other videos made public by the NBI purportedly showed Cornejo leaving her unit before Navarro arrived at the condominium and of Lee kissing Cornejo in the elevator after bringing Navarro to the police.

Lee earlier claimed he and his friends beat Navarro after they caught him reportedly raping Cornejo.