A relative of Deniece Cornejo said the model and TV host and comedian Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro should settle their rape and illegal detention cases, and move on.
Lawyer Axel Gonzalez, who identified himself as the cousin of Cornejo’s grandmother and the spokesperson of the family, appeared at the arraignment of Navarro at the Taguig Hall of Justice on Oct. 11.
“I feel, as the spokesperson of the family, ang feeling nila, nung hindi pa na-indict si Vhong, hindi pa nakulong, parang masama talaga ang loob nila sa mundo. But now na na-indict si Vhong, at same time, nakulong, hindi na masyadong masakit (I feel, as the spokesperson of the family, they felt that when Vhong was not yet indicted and jailed, they really felt bad towards the world. But now that Vhong was indicted, at the same time, jailed, it does not hurt that much),” Gonzalez said.
He added, “But as a lawyer, dapat, pareho silang may career, isettle na nila ang problema. Because may rape si Deniece kesa kay Vhong. Si Vhong naman may serious illegal detention sa kanila (But as a lawyer, it should be, since they have their careers, they should settle the problem. Because Deniece has rape against Vhong. Vhong has serious illegal detention against them).”
Navarro is facing cases of rape and acts of lasciviousness in two Taguig courts based on the complaints of Cornejo, which both allegedly happened in her condominium unit in 2014.
He allegedly raped Cornejo on Jan. 17, 2014 while the acts of lasciviousness purportedly occurred on Jan. 22, 2014.
Navarro was arraigned by the Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 69 on Oct. 11. He attended the hearing via videoconferencing and refused to enter a plea. As a result, the court entered a not guilty plea for him. Cornejo also did not appear in court.
Cornejo, Cedric Lee, and Simeon Raz were charged by Navarro with serious illegal detention in 2014. They were released from detention after they were granted bail.
According to Gonzalez, “Ang punto ay tulungan na lang natin ang korte. Let us settle all these problems na pwedeng ma-settle, hindi ba, and then move on na lang para sa akin (The point is let us just help the court. Let us settle all these problems that can be settled, is it not, and then just move on, for me).”
Gonzalez said this is only his personal opinion, adding that “hindi ko hold ang grupo (I do not have a hold on the group).”
“Personally para sa akin, dapat siguro magsettle na lang sila, magmove on na lang para matapos na kasi ang nakikinabang lang dito mga abugado e. Wag na, tapusin na natin ang problema (Personally for me, they should just settle, move one to end it because the only ones who benefit from this are the lawyers),” he said.
He said he has no intention of reaching out to anybody, either to Deniece, Vhong or their lawyers about the settlement.
“Ang kawawa dito ang litigants. Gastos sila nang gastos. Kung pwedeng tapusin, tapusin na lang. This does not bind my client or as a spokesperson of the family. I don’t know what’s on their mind (The ones who will suffer are the litigants . They spend a lot. If this can be ended, just end it),” said Gonzalez.