Globe can't retrieve Vhong-Deniece text messages

MANILA, Philippines - Telecommunications giant Globe Telecom on Tuesday said that it cannot retrieve the allegedly erased text messages of TV host Vhong Navarro and model Deniece Cornejo.

Lawyer Froilan Castelo, Globe's senior vice president and legal counsel, said on Tuesday that the communications provider does not keep an archive of its subcribers' text messages as this intrudes into their privacy.

"Ang Globe ay hindi ho nagtatago ng records ng text messages, ang nasa amin po ay 'yung transaction records which is the fact that a text message was sent on this day, hour and minute," Castelo said in an interview on ABS-CBN's morning show "Umagang Kay Ganda."

Navarro's lawyer, Alma Mallonga, had said that they would ask the telco a copy of the text messages of Cornejo that were allegedly erased from Navarro's mobile phone.

Navarro alleged in his affidavit submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that the group of businessman Cedric Lee erased the text messages from his phone to conceal his exchange with Cornejo.

Mallonga said that they can use the record from the telco against Cornejo and the businessman in connection with the January 22 assault at Forbeswood Heights condominum in Taguig city.

The lawyer believes that the deleted messages would prove that Navarro did not attempt to sexually abuse Cornejo and that the mauling was a set up to extort money from him.

Castelo said, meanwhile, said that Navarro can still have the transaction records of his text message exchange with Cornejo if both camps would agree on their retrieval.

"Kung hindi man makuha itong consent na ito ay makukuha ito through court order o anumang ahensya na may otoridad na mag-isyu ng subpoena just like CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) at NBI (National Bureau of Investigation)," Castelo explained.

Navarro's cellphone has been turned over to the NBI.

Navarro had said in a sworn affidavit that he and Cornejo were communicating via text messages in between their first private meeting on January 17 and the mauling incident. - Camille Diola