Ferdinand Guerrero, one of the four people convicted by a Taguig court of serious illegal detention for ransom of TV host Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro, surrendered on May 16.
Guerrero is now in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). The NBI team, led by Director Medardo de Lemos, went to the office of Guerrero’s lawyer, Alex Avisado Jr., on Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati where he surrendered.
Ferdinand Guerrero (Screenshot from ABS-CBN News video) 
Deniece Cornejo (Photo from her Facebook acccount) 
Cedric Lee (Screenshot from ABS-CBN News video) 
Simeon Raz Jr. (Photo from Taguig Police) 
Vhong Navarro speaking about the court decision on "It's Showtime" on May 2 (Screenshot from "It's Showtime" video)
“The accused again stated his willingness to surrender and went peacefully with the NBI agents. Documents are now being prepared for the return of the warrant to the issuing court,” according to the NBI.
“I’ve surrendered everything to the Lord. God is sovereign. God is in total control. God loves us,” Guerrero said after his surrender, ABS-CBN News reported.
Guerrero surrendered two weeks after Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 153 handed down its decision on May 2 finding him, Cedric Lee, Deniece Cornejo and Simeon Raz Jr. guilty beyond reasonable doubt for the crime of serious illegal detention for ransom of Navarro.
The incident happened on Jan. 22, 2014 inside Cornejo’s condominium unit at Forbeswood Heights in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
The Taguig court sentenced Lee, Cornejo, Raz and Guerrero to reclusion perpetua, which carries imprisonment of “twenty years and one day to forty years,” according to the Revised Penal Code.
The four were also ordered to pay Navarro P100,000 as civil indemnity; P100,000 as moral damages and P100,000 as exemplary damages.
Guerrero and Lee were absent at the promulgation of the decision. The court issued warrants of arrest against them.
Avisado said they have filed an omnibus motion with the Taguig court so Guerrero can explain why he was absent during the promulgation so that his right to appeal can be preserved.
Under the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure, “If the judgment is for conviction and the failure of the accused to appear was without justifiable cause, he shall lose the remedies available in these rules against the judgment and the court shall order his arrest. Within fifteen (15) days from promulgation of judgment, however, the accused may surrender and file a motion for leave of court to avail of these remedies. He shall state the reasons for his absence at the scheduled promulgation and if he proves that his absence was for a justifiable cause, he shall be allowed to avail of said remedies within fifteen (15) days from notice.”
Avisado said another reason is for Guerrero to undergo a medical examination.
The NBI is awaiting the commitment order from the Taguig court to know which prison facility Guerrero will be transferred to.
After the promulgation on May 2, Cornejo and Raz, who were present, were immediately taken into custody by the police. On the same day, Cornejor was brought to the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong while Raz was transferred to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa.
Lee contacted the NBI for his surrender. According to the NBI, Lee surrendered at Ortigas Center in Mandaluyong. He was taken to the NBI headquarters for booking procedures.
On May 3, based on the order of commitment issued by the Taguig court, the NBI brought Lee to the NBP.
The New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa (Jonathan Hicap)
The NBP Reception and Diagnostic Center (RDC) in Muntinlupa (Photo from BuCor's Facebook page)
Like Lee and Raz, Guerrero may be brought to the NBP to serve his sentence.
If Guerrero is committed to the NBP, he will be brought to the NBP Reception and Diagnostic Center (RDC) where he will undergo admission procedures as a person deprived of liberty (PDL).
There his fingerprints and mugshots will be taken. Guerrero will also be assigned a permanent prison number.
He will stay at the RDC for 60 days including the first five days in quarantine. After the period, he will be classified as a PDL based on his security risk.
Lee and Raz are currently at the NBP RDC, and Cornejo at the CIW RDC.
Under Article 27 of the Revised Penal Code on reclusion perpetua, “Any person sentenced to any of the perpetual penalties shall be pardoned after undergoing the penalty for thirty years, unless such person by reason of his conduct or some other serious cause shall be considered by the Chief Executive as unworthy of pardon.”
Avisado said they will file an appeal to overturn the decision of the Taguig court.
A copy of the decision of the Taguig RTC Branch 153 in the Vhong Navarro case