Television host and comedian Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro refused to enter any plea in the rape case filed by model Deniece Cornejo.
Navarro was arraigned on Oct. 11 at the Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 69, which is handling his rape case.
He did not appear personally but was arraigned through videoconferencing, an arrangement that was approved by the court based on Supreme Court rules.
Alma Mallonga, the TV host's lawyer, said Navarro did not enter any plea during the arraignment. As a result, the court entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
"He did not plea mainly because ... for legal considerations. Because, briefly, we have a pending petition before the Supreme Court. That is the reason," said Mallonga.
She added, "It's just that for the reasons stated in our petition for review, which I will not discuss, we thought it more prudent to not to allow Mr. Vhong Navarro to enter a plea. Under the rules, therefore, the court entered a plea of not guilty for him."
On the other hand, the court did not allow Cornejo to attend the arraignment via videoconferencing. She also failed to show up in person.
Navarro is currently detained at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Detention Center in Manila. The Taguig RTC Branch 69 issued a non-bailable warrant of arrest against Navarro for the rape case on Sept. 19.
The Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office filed the rape case against the TV host, stating that on Jan. 17, 2014, Navarro “through force, threat and intimidation, and by purposely intoxicating the victim, did willfully, unlawfully and feloniously have carnal knowledge with one Deniece Millinete Cornejo.”
Navarro is facing cases for rape and acts of acts of lasciviousness before two Taguig courts.
On Sept. 19, Navarro surrendered to the NBI regarding a warrant of arrest issued by the Taguig Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 116 for the case of acts of lasciviousness, which allegedly happened on Jan. 22, 2014. Navarro’s bail was set at P36,000.
However, on the afternoon of the same day, the Taguig RTC Branch 69 issued a warrant of arrest without bail for rape against Navarro.
The filing of rape and acts of lasciviousness cases against Navarro was ordered by the Court of Appeals (CA).
In a decision promulgated last July 21, the CA ruled in favor of Cornejo’s petition regarding the cases.
The CA ordered the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office “to file the Information against Ferdinand “Vhong” H. Navarro for: (1) Rape by Sexual Intercourse under Article 266-A (1) of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 8353; and (2) Acts of Lasciviousness under Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code.”
“Ultimately, it falls upon the trial court to determine who between Navarro and Cornejo speaks the truth,” the CA stated in the decision.
The CA said that “it was erroneous for the DOJ to deny Cornejo’s petition for review on the ground that her statements in the complaint-affidavits are inconsistent and incredible.”
The appeals court said that “issues of credibility should be adjudged during the trial proper.”
Navarro requested the court for his continued detention at the NBI but was denied.
In a decision dated Sept. 29, the Taguig RTC Branch 69 ruled that “after a thorough consideration of the arguments of both the prosecution and the defense, the Court finds that accused was not able to justify the need for his continued detention at the NBI facility.”
The Taguig court stated that “it must also be emphasized that the city jail is mandated to exercise great care so that the human rights of the prisoners are respected and protected. Thus, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, the presumption of regularity in the performance of duties by the jail personnel prevails.”
“Wherefore, premises considered, the Urgent Motion for the National Bureau of Investigation to Retain Custody Over the Person of the Accused is hereby denied for lack of merit,” the court ruled.
The decision paved the way for Navarro to be transferred to the Taguig City Jail.