Vhong Navarro turns emotional after Taguig court convicts Cedric Lee, Deniece Cornejo, others in serious illegal detention case
Vhong Navarro turned emotional on live television as he expressed gratitude after a Taguig court found businessman Cedric Lee, model Deniece Cornejo, and two others guilty of serious illegal detention for ransom following the lawsuit he filed against them.
On It’s Showtime’s May 2 episode, Navarro cheerfully sang the theme song with his co-hosts and greeted the crowd “What’s up, madlang pipol” before he took a moment and silence ensued.
He then thanked several entities following the court’s verdict.
“Maraming maraming salamat, Lord, dahil lagi kang nakagabay sa akin,” he said. “Sa rami ng pinagdaanan ko sa buhay, nandiyan ka. Ikaw ang naging sentro ko. At napakatotoo mo.”
He also gave a mention to the Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 153 for giving him justice which, he said, he has long prayed for.
“Of course, maraming salamat po sa aking legal team… sa hindi niyo po pagbitaw at pagsama sa akin hanggang sa huli,” he added.
Navarro also mentioned the ABS-CBN bosses Carlo Katigbak, Cory Vidanes, Mark Lopez, Gabby Lopez, Charo Santos-Concio, Freddie Garcia, and Laurenti Dyogi.
“Dahil since Day 1, nandiyan po kayo, lagi po kayong nakasuporta sa akin at naniniwala kayo sa akin,” he said.
He also thanked members of the public for sticking with him amid the bad press he got.
“Kung ano ‘yung mga narinig niyong di maganda sa akin, ay patuloy kayong nandiyan, sumusuporta at naniniwala,” he said.
He also thanked his It’s Showtime colleagues for their patience and understanding during times when he said he felt “lutang.”
“Rollercoaster ang pinagdaanan ko, ang hirap i-explain, pero minsan sabaw ako,” he said. “Pero andiyan kayo, kahit ‘yung mga hirit ko, sablay, papuntang norte, papuntang south. 'Di ko alam.”
He also thanked his family for loving him and being strong for him, including his wife Tanya Bautista.
“Marami akong pagkukulang sa iyo, pero di mo ako iniwan,” he said, taking a pause and breaking into tears. “Marami akong kasalanan, pero andiyan ka pa rin. Hayaan mong bumawi ako sa iyo sa abot ng aking makakaya. Hanggang sa huling sandali ng buhay ko.”
Navarro’s co-hosts then formed a huddle with him as they had a group hug.
Taguig’s RTC Branch 153 sentenced Lee, Cornejo, as well as Ferdinand Guerrero and Simeon Raz to reclusion perpetua. They were also ordered to pay Navarro P100,000 in civil indemnity, P100,000 in moral damages, and P100,000 in exemplary damages. These have an interest rate of 6% per annum from the finality of the judgment until fully paid.
In January 2014, Cornejo accused Navarro of raping her in her condo unit. She filed rape and acts of lasciviousness complaints against him.
This prompted Lee’s group to beat him up.
Navarro then filed a serious illegal detention case against them.
In 2018 and 2020, the Department of Justice affirmed the dismissal of Cornejo’s complaints against Navarro and in July 2022, the Court of Appeals (CA) reversed the dismissal.
Navarro surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation in September of that year and in November, was transferred to Taguig City Jail.
In December, Navarro posted a P1 million bail and in January 2023, was able to return to his hosting duties at It’s Showtime.
In February, the Supreme Court dismissed the rape and acts of lasciviousness cases against Navarro due to lack of probable cause, saying the CA “gravely erred” in its decision.