Deniece Cornejo, Simeon Raz now in BuCor custody, undergoing pre-detention procedures
Model Deniece Cornejo and mixed martial arts practitioner Simeon Raz are now in the custody of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) after they were convicted of serious illegal detention for ransom in light of actor Vhong Navarro’s lawsuit.
According to a report by The Philippine STAR, BuCor chief Gregorio Catapang Jr. stated that the two will be sent to separate facilities—Cornejo at the Reception and Diagnostic Centers (RDCs) of the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong while Raz at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa.
Their mugshots have also been released by the rehabilitation agency, along with fellow convict and businessman Cedric Lee, who voluntarily surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation and has now been transferred to the NBP.
TINGNAN: Kinumpirma ng Bureau of Corrections na nailipat na sa Correctional Institure for Women si Deniece Cornejo matapos nitong ma-convict sa Serious Illegal Detention with Ransom na isinampa ng aktor na sa Vhong Navarro. | via Louisa Erispe (1/3) pic.twitter.com/XhPcaBep6V
— PTVph (@PTVph) May 3, 2024
Catapang explained that before Cornejo and Raz are taken to their respective facilities, they would first need to undergo an initial interview and checkup at the RDC as a matter of precedure.
"He or she will be placed in the quarantine cell for a period of five days with no visiting privileges, followed by diagnostic procedures that include medical, sociological, psychological, educational, and classification processes for 55 days," Catapang said.
Lee's business partner, Ferdinand Guerrero, remains at large, but the Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 153 has already issued a warrant for his arrest.
The four of them were sentenced to reclusion perpetua and were ordered to pay Navarro P100,000 in civil indemnity, P100,000 in moral damages, and P100,000 in exemplary damages.
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.
It wasn't until 2018 that the Department of Justice affirmed the dismissal of Cornejo’s complaints against Navarro, but in July 2022, the Court of Appeals reversed the dismissal.
Navarro surrendered to the NBI 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.
Reacting to the court's decision, Navarro expressed his gratitude to several entities for their support as well as the Taguig court for giving him justice, which he said he has long prayed for.