TV host and comedian Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro thanked the Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 153 for upholding justice after he won the serious illegal detention case he filed against businessman Cedric Lee, model Deniece Cornejo and others.

Vhong Navarro talking about the decision on "It's Showtime" on May 2 (Screenshot from "It's Showtime video on YouTube)

(From left) Deniece Cornejo, Vhong Navarro in a hospital in 2014, and Cedric Lee (Jonathan Hicap, Navarro's screenshot from Buzz ng Bayan/ABS-CBN)

In a decision on May 2, the Taguig court found Lee, Cornejo, Simeon Palma Raz Jr. and Ferdinand Guerrero guilty beyond reasonable doubt of serious illegal detention of Navarro and sentenced them to reclusion perpetua.

The court also ordered the accused to pay Navarro P100,000 as civil indemnity, P100,000 as moral damages, and P100,000 as exemplary damages.

During the May 2 episode of the show “It’s Showtime,” Navarro became emotional and thanked the court, his lawyers, family, and friends.

“And, of course, maraming salamat sa RTC Taguig Branch 153. Kay Judge [Mariam] Bien at sa lahat ng staff ng court sa ibinigay niyo pong justice sa akin na matagal ko na pong pinagdadasal. Salamat po ng marami (And, of course, thank you to the RTC Taguig Branch 153. To Judge [Mariam] Bien and to all the staff of the court for giving me justice which I have been praying for. Thank you very much),” said Navarro.

The serious illegal detention of Navarro happened on Jan. 22, 2014 in Cornejo’s condominium unit at Forbeswood Heights in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

In the decision, the Taguig RTC Branch 153 ruled, “Wherefore, premises considered, this court hereby finds accused Deniece Millinette Cornejo, Cedric Lee, Ferdinand Guerrero And Simeon Palma Raz, guilty beyond reasonable doubt for the crime of serious illegal detention for ransom, defined and punished under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended; and hereby sentences them to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua.”

Reclusion perpetua imposes imprisonment of 20 years and one day to a maximum of 40 years.

Under Article 27 of the Revised Penal Code on reclusion perpetua, “Any person sentenced to any of the perpetual penalties shall be pardoned after undergoing the penalty for thirty years, unless such person by reason of his conduct or some other serious cause shall be considered by the Chief Executive as unworthy of pardon.”

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