Television host and comedian Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro’s first day of trial for the rape case filed by model Deniece Cornejo will start today, Oct. 13, in a court in Taguig.
The Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 69 is handling the criminal case, which accused Navarro of raping Cornejo in her condominium unit on Jan. 17, 2014.
Alma Mallonga, Navarro’s lawyer, said the TV host’s emotional state is not good but he remains strong and positive.
“I just like to say for all those who have been concerned about Vhong. I have spoken to him. Of course, his emotional state is not as good as we wanted it to be. But I am happy to say that he remains strong. He is doing his best to remain positive and the fighting spirit is actually there. Walang iwanan, laban lang talaga. Just do what we need to do,” she said.
The start of the trial came after Navarro was arraigned by the court on Oct. 11 but he did not appear in person.
In a ruling, the Taguig court let Navarro be arraigned remotely through videoconferencing, which is allowed by the Supreme Court due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
During his arraignment, Navarro refused to enter a plea. Based on rules, the court entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
Navarro’s lawyer, Alma Mallonga, said Navarro did not enter a plea due to a pending petition regarding the case before the Supreme Court.
As allowed by the Taguig court, Navarro will not attend the trial in person but through videoconferencing.
Cornejo, on the other hand, will personally attend the hearing.
“All I can say for today is that the arraignment and pre-trial proceeded. The court made clear that moving forward, her policy is that persons deprived of liberty which is Mr. Vhong Navarro will appear via videoconferencing,” said Mallonga on Oct. 11.
She added, “But that all other persons including counsels and witnesses will be appearing face-to-face before the honorable court.”
Howard Calleja, Cornejo’s lawyer, said what is important is for the court to hear Cornejo’s case.
“Ang importante ay madinig ng korte ang kaso ni Deniece laban kay Vhong na siya ay nabiktima nung eight years ago at yun ay patutunayan natin sa korteng ito (What is important is for the court to hear Deniece’s case against Vhong, that she was victimized eight years ago and we will prove it in this court),” he said.
Mallonga said dates have been set by the court for Navarro’s petition for bail, which he is seeking after the court issued a non-bailable warrant of arrest against him on Sept. 19 for the rape case.
In 2014, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and prosecutors dismissed the rape complaints, prompting Cornejo to eventually elevate them to the Court of Appeals (CA).
In a decision promulgated on July 21 this year, the CA ruled in favor of Cornejo and ordered the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office to file cases for rape and acts of lasciviousness against Navarro.
Navarro is detained at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Detention Center in Manila. He surrendered to the NBI on Sept. 19 after the first warrant of arrest with a bail of P36,000 was issued by the Taguig Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 116 for the case of acts of lasciviousness.
However, the second warrant of arrest with no bail recommended for the rape case came out in the afternoon of Sept. 19.
Cornejo’s camp has requested the court to transfer Navarro to the Taguig City Jail. Recently, the court denied Navarro’s motion for his continued detention at the NBI. The court has yet to make a final ruling on Navarro's detention.
Navarro repeatedly denied that he raped Cornejo.