Detained TV host and comedian Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro will undergo a health exam and quarantine for Covid-19 at the Taguig City Jail.
Navarro was transferred to the Taguig City Jail on Nov. 21 from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) detention center in Manila where he was in detention since Sept. 20.
This was based on a commitment order issued by the Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 69, which is handling the rape case filed against Navarro by model Deniece Cornejo. The NBI received the order on Nov. 14.
“We confirm the transfer of Vhong today from NBI to BJMP, Taguig. Under the rules, he will undergo first quarantine of about 5 to 7 days at BJMP Taguig. This transfer is in compliance to the order of RTC Branch 69 dated Nov 7, 2022,” lawyer Mariglen Abraham-Garduque, Navarro’s collaborating counsel, told Manila Bulletin.
Navarro is now in the Taguig City Jail Male Dormitory, supervised by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), located in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig. The Taguig jail facility houses 993 persons deprived of liberty (PDL).
BJMP Jail Senior Insp. Hernand Macoy said at the Taguig City Jail, Navarro will undergo medical exam to assess the status of his health.
He will be quarantined and isolated in compliance with health protocols.
The Taguig City Jail will make an assessment if there is any security threat to Navarro, determining what will be his impact if he is detained together with the general population of the facility, Macoy added.
On Sept. 19, the Taguig RTC Branch 69 issued a non-bailable warrant of arrest for rape against Navarro. He surrendered to the NBI in Quezon City on Sept. 19 for the first warrant of arrest for acts of lasciviousness, also filed by Cornejo, with a bail of P36,000 issued by the Taguig Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 116.
The non-bailable warrant of arrest was issued in the afternoon of Sept. 19. He was transferred to the NBI Detention Center in Manila on Sept. 20.
Navarro filed a petition for bail with the Taguig court to seek his provisional liberty. If it is granted, he will be released from the Taguig City Jail.