Vhong Navarro to pursue legal remedies following Deniece Cornejo, Cedric Lee's pending release
Vhong Navarro's camp said that the actor will pursue legal remedies following reports of a reduced penalty for Deniece Cornejo, Cedric Lee, and two others in relation to a serious illegal detention for ransom case.
A decision finalized on Sept. 25 indicated that the Court of Appeals ordered the immediate release of Cornejo, Lee, Ferdinand Guerrero, and Simeon Palma Raz after their penalties were reduced to a minimum of six months of arresto mayor and a maximum of three years, six months, and 21 days of prision correccional, along with a P100,000 fine.
On Sept. 28, Navarro's counsel, Atty. Alma Mallonga, issued a statement, which was broadcast on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda.
"Naniniwala siya (Navarro), noon tulad ngayon, na sa kabila ng mga malinaw na pagkukulang at kahinaan nito, mananaig ang katotohanan at ang kanyang mahaba at mahirap na pakikibaka upang itama ang kriminal na pagkakamali na ginawa sa kanya ay hahantong sa isang makatarungang konklusyon," Mallonga said.
"Alinsunod sa pananampalatayang iyon, patuloy niyang gagawin ang lahat ng nararapat na hakbang ayon sa batas. Handa siyang tanggapin nang buo ang resulta ng prosesong iyon kapag natapos na ito."
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Corrections said on Monday that it was still verifying court records before releasing Cornejo and her co-accused.
It is also requesting a certificate of no pending case from the Taguig Regional Trial Court.
“The Bureau is reviewing the records and sentence computations to ensure that any release is carried out in accordance with the appellate court’s order and applicable rules on sentence administration,” the BuCor said in a statement.
Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, who previously represented Cornejo, explained in an interview with Frontline Express that the release order comes after the CA found that the sentence imposed on the four accused was too severe.
The case
Cornejo and her co-accused were convicted in May 2024, more than a decade after the incident with Navarro that sparked the long-running legal battle.
The case stemmed from when Navarro went to Cornejo’s condominium unit at Forbeswood Heights in Taguig City in January 2014. The actor claimed that he was suddenly attacked by a group of men who beat him, restrained him, threatened him, and demanded money in exchange for his release.
Cornejo, meanwhile, accused Navarro of attempting to rape her inside the condominium.
The legal battle continued for years, but the Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 153 eventually found Cornejo, Lee, Guerrero, and Raz guilty beyond reasonable doubt of serious illegal detention for ransom under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code.
They were originally sentenced to reclusion perpetua, which has a duration of 20 years and one day to 40 years.
