Deniece Cornejo to be released next week after CA reduces penalty
Former model Deniece Cornejo, as well as her three co-accused, may soon be released next week after the Court of Appeals has reduced their penalty in relation to the serious illegal detention for ransom of actor and television host Vhong Navarro.
In a decision finalized on Sept. 25, the court ordered the immediate release of Cornejo, Cedric Lee, Ferdinand Guerrero, and Simeon Palma Raz after reducing their penalties 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.
"Unless they are being held for some other lawful cause, the aforementioned accused-appellants are hereby ordered to be immediately released from detention," the decision read.
Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, who previously represented Cornejo, explained in an interview with Frontline Express that the release comes after the CA found that the sentence imposed on the four accused was too severe.
"Napatunayan na masyadong mataas 'yung ipinataw na sentensya ng Regional Trial Court, kaya binabaan siya," he said.
"At 'yung dalawang taon, more or less, na nakapiit si binibining Cornejo ay kinonsidera na time served or natapos na ang kanyang sentensya kaya in-order na siyang pakawalan," he added.
According to him, the Public Attorney’s Office and other lawyers are now processing the documents needed for her release from the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City. This could be finalized early next week, per ONE News.
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.
