The trial of “It’s Showtime” host and comedian Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro, who is accused of rape, will start today, Feb. 16.
Navarro is accused of raping model Deniece Cornejo in her condominium unit on Jan. 17, 2014. He was released from detention last December when the Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 69 granted his petition for bail in the amount of P1 million.
The TV host is not required to attend the hearing today.
When the Taguig court ordered Navarro’s release from the Taguig City Jail Male Dormitory on Dec. 6, it also set the dates for the rape trial.
Under the court’s order, the prosecution will be the one to start their presentation of evidence-in-chief on Feb. 16. They will continue to present evidence in 12 more hearings until April 11, 2024.
For Vhong’s side, his defense team will present evidence starting on May 16, 2024 with five more hearings until Nov. 14, 2024.
Last Dec. 19, Cornejo appealed Navarro’s bail grant and filed a motion to inhibit the Taguig judge from hearing the case.
In a decision dated Jan. 12, the Taguig RTC Branch 69 dismissed Cornejo’s motion for reconsideration with motion to inhibit after it found out that the appeal was filed without the approval of the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office.