MANILA, Philippines - The legal counsel of businessman Cedric Lee and model Deniece Cornejo is confident that the security footage from the Forbeswood Heights condominium can be used against actor Vhong Navarro’s claim that he was set up by his clients.
Lawyer Howard Calleja said on Wednesday that the video from the condominium building's closed circuit camera establishes how Navarro voluntarily entered Cornejo's unit first.
"Sabi ni Vhong Navarro sa mga interview, na siya ay na-setup, noong dumating siya nandoon ang mga tao sa kwartong ito," Calleja said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Umagang Kay Ganda.
"Pero ang CCTV ay pabor na sinasabing wala pa ang mga tao roon. Bakit? Klaro na nauna si Vhong Navarro bago ang mga kliyente ko," he said.
Calleja maintained that Lee and six others with him the night of January 22 went to the police station right away after mauling Navarro in the residential unit. The group claimed that they caught the actor about to sexually abuse Cornejo.
He said that Lee and company passed public areas as they drove to Southern Police District headquarters, which they believed was the nearest police station from the condominium building.
A source of The Philippine STAR, however, said that the video footage showed Navarro appearing at the lobby of the condominium at 10:38 p.m. on January 22 and took an elevator to the second floor where Cornejo’s unit is located.
Cornejo was afterwards seen taking the elevator to the ground floor and walking out of the condominium a minute after Navarro entered the building. She was wearing a blouse, blazer, a mini skirt, and a pair of flip-flops.
Read the report: Cedric, Deniece ordered held without bail
The footage also shows that while Cornejo was still out of the building, Lee entered the building. Cornejo and Lee’s sister Bernice arrived one after the other or just minutes apart. A group of men – believed to be Lee’s friends – also entered the building moments later.
Rape not attempted rape
Lee and Cornejo, who were were charged by the National Bureau of Investigation with six offenses Tuesday night including serious illegal detention, will file a rape case against Navarro.
Calleja cited that the Anti-Rape Law of 1997 extends the definition of rape as an act of carnal knowledge of a woman at least through force, intimidation or grave abuse of authority.
"Sabihin lang 'yong katotohanan at sabihin lahat ng nangyari. Kaya nga noong aming pag-evaluate ng mga facts o mga kwento, sabi namin, mukhang hindi attempted rape (lang) ang nangyari," Calleja said. - Camille Diola