Businessman Cedric Lee, Ferdinand Guerrero, and Simeon Raz who have been convicted of serious illegal detention for ranson and sentenced to life imprisonment in the case filed by television host Ferdinand "Vhong" Navarro will not be detained at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
“Since we are no longer allowed to accept any more PDLs (persons deprived of liberty) at the NBP and with the on-going decongestion program being implemented, I have ordered NBP Supt. C/CINSP Roger Boncales to determine where they will be committed, just like any other newly committed PDLs,” said Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. in a statement.
Also convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment last May 2 in a decision handed down by Taguig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Marian G. Bien was model Deniece Millinette Cornejo.
Since Cornejo and Raz were present during the promulgation of the decision, they were immediately arrested. Published reports stated that Cornejo has been turned over to the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City.
Lee and Guererro were not present during the promulgation. Judge Bien ordered the cancellation of their bail bonds and directed law enforcement agencies to arrest them.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has alerted its officers in the country's ports and airports to be on the lookout for Lee and Guerrero.
Catapang said "the bureau has yet to receive the commitment order for Lee, who surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation last night.” Only Guerrero has not turned himself to authorities, he said.
He also said that Raz is already at the Reception and Diagnostic Center (RDC) of the NBP. He confirmed that Cornejo was admitted at the CIW.
Catapang explained that, once the court issues a commitment order, the newly committed PDLs are received at the RDC “for initial interview and checkup.”
“He will be placed at Quarantine Cell for a period of five days with no visiting privileges, followed by diagnostic procedure which include medical, sociological, psychological, educational and classification process for 55 days,” it said.
Meanwhile, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla lauded prosecutors for securing the convictions in the case.
“This conviction is a testament of the hardwork and dedication of our prosecutors that the DOJ will always serve as a beacon of hope for victims of injustice, reaffirming our commitment to the people that justice will be enforced to or against anyone regardless of social status, fame, power or wealth," he stated.
Remulla noted that the case was handled by Antipolo City Prosecutor Mari Elvira B. Herrera, Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Hazel C. Decena-Valdez and Deputy State Prosecutor Olivia L. Torrevillas.