Cedric Lee and Deniece Cornejo Found Guilty in Vhong Navarro Serious Illegal Detention Case
LIFE IMPRISONMENT – Cedric Lee, Deniece Cornejo, and their accomplices have been convicted of serious illegal detention in a high-profile case involving TV host Vhong Navarro. The verdict was delivered by the Taguig Regional Trial Court on May 2, 2024, finding them guilty “beyond reasonable doubt.”
The incident that led to the charges occurred ten years ago, on January 22, 2014. Navarro was allegedly assaulted, tied up, threatened, and held in Deniece Cornejo’s condominium in Taguig City. Along with Lee and Cornejo, Zimmer Raz and Ferdinand Guerrero were also implicated in the crime. The court has sentenced them to reclusion perpetua (life imprisonment) and issued arrest warrants for Lee and Guerrero, who were absent during the promulgation of the judgment.
In addition to the life sentence, the court ordered the accused to pay Navarro a total of P300,000 in damages, including civil indemnity, moral damages, and exemplary damages, all accruing a legal interest rate of 6% per annum from the finality of the judgment until fully paid.
This ruling follows a previous conviction in July 2018, where Lee and Cornejo were found guilty of grave coercion related to the same incident. The recent judgment reinforces the court’s stance on the severity of the offenses committed against Navarro. Raz and Cornejo, who were present at the hearing, were taken into custody immediately, while the court’s decision to cancel the bail bond of the accused underscores the seriousness of their crimes.
Vhong Navarro, through his legal counsel Atty. Alma Mallonga, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, although he did not attend the hearing himself. This case has been a significant legal battle, reflecting on issues of personal security and justice in high-profile cases in the Philippines.
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