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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Metro Manila devider Vhong Navarro 'very happy' with SC dismissal of rape case filed against him

Vhong Navarro 'very happy' with SC dismissal of rape case filed against him

Published Mar 13, 2023 01:10 pm
TV host Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro is “very happy” after the Supreme Court issued a decision dismissing the cases for rape and acts of lasciviousness filed by model Deniece Cornejo.  “He is very happy about the decision of the Supreme Court,” Alma Mallonga, Navarro’s lead counsel, told

Manila Bulletin

on March 13.  TV host Vhong Navarro (left) and model Deniece Cornejo (Photos: Instagram, Jonathan Hicap) 
In a decision promulgated on Feb. 8, the Supreme Court granted Navarro’s petition for review on certiorari, questioning the decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) last July and September that led to the filing of the rape and acts of lasciviousness cases against him before the Taguig courts.  In granting the petition, the Supreme Court reversed the rulings of the Court of Appeals.  It also ruled that “accordingly, the Court dismisses the following Informations against Ferdinand ‘Vhong’ H. Navarro for lack of probable cause: (a) Rape by Sexual Intercourse under paragraph 1, Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 8353, in NPS Docket No. XVI-INV-16E-00174 pending before Branch 69, Regional Trial Court, Taguig City; and (b) Acts of Lasciviousness under Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code in NPS Docket No.XVI-INV-15J-00815 pending before Branch 116, Metropolitan Trial Court, Taguig City. So ordered.” Mallonga said, “We are happy with the grant of our petition. It’s very clear on the basis of the decision when it granted our petition that there was no basis actually because there was no grave abuse of discretion on the part of the Department of Justice in dismissing the” complaints of Cornejo.  She said they are studying the Supreme Court decision on what actions to take.  Lawyer Mariglen Abraham-Garduque, who helped Navarro in his petition for bail, said she is also happy with the decision.  “As the lawyer who helped Vhong in the petition for bail, I am very happy for this decision of Supreme Court dismissing the informations for rape and acts of lasciviousness filed against Vhong. I am very happy for Vhong also. At least now everything will be put into rest. His liberty shall be considered permanent and not temporary anymore,” she said.  Cornejo accused Navarro of raping her in her condominium unit in Taguig on Jan. 17, 2014.  The Taguig RTC Branch 69 issued a non-bailable warrant of arrest against Navarro on Sept. 19 last year.  Navarro filed for a petition for bail, which the court granted and set the amount at P1 million. He was released from the Taguig City Jail Male Dormitory on Dec. 6.  Before the decision, Navarro’s rape trial started on Feb. 16 at the Taguig Court and was scheduled to last until next year. 

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