MANILA — Following a trial at the Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 153, businessman Cedric Lee and model Deniece Cornejo, alongside two others, have been convicted for serious illegal detention concerning the case filed by TV host and comedian Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro.

During the proceedings on May 2, the court found Lee, Cornejo, Simeon Palma Raz Jr., and Ferdinand Guerrero guilty beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced them to reclusion perpetua, as reported by Super Radyo DZBB. Cornejo and Raz were present at the promulgation and were promptly taken into custody, while warrants of arrest were issued for Lee and Guerrero, who did not attend.

In addition to the sentencing, the court ordered the convicted individuals to pay damages of P300,000 to Navarro. Alma Mallonga, Navarro’s legal representative, expressed Navarro’s gratitude for finally achieving justice, although Navarro himself did not attend the promulgation.

The case originated in 2014 when the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed charges of serious illegal detention against Lee, Cornejo, Raz, Guerrero, Bernice Cua Lee, Jose Paolo Gregorio Calma, and Sajed Fernandez Abuhijleh.

It was alleged that the seven accused detained Navarro in Cornejo’s condominium unit in Taguig on Jan. 22, 2014, where he was subjected to physical assault, with a ransom demand of P2 million.

In a separate legal development, the Supreme Court’s decision in February 2023 granted Navarro’s petition for review on certiorari, contesting the Court of Appeals’ rulings that led to the filing of rape and acts of lasciviousness cases against him in Taguig courts. Consequently, the Supreme Court dismissed the aforementioned charges against Navarro due to lack of probable cause.

Before the dismissal of the charges, Navarro had been detained at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) detention center and the Taguig City Jail Male Dormitory, following a non-bailable warrant of arrest issued by a Taguig court on Sept. 19, 2022. However, he was granted bail by Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 69 and was released from detention on Dec. 6, 2022, after posting bail of P1 million.

(el Amigo/MNM)