Vhong Navarro surrenders to NBI following arrest warrant
A Taguig court issued an arrest warrant for television anchor Vhong Navarro on Monday following an incident with model-stylist Deniece Cornejo in 2014, according to his attorney. Navarro turned himself in to the NBI.
According to an earlier complaint made by Cornejo, Branch 116 of the Metropolitan Trial Court in Taguig City found probable cause to detain Navarro for trial for acts of lasciviousness in its ruling dated September 15.
On Monday, the media was given a copy of the order.
The suggested bail amount was $36,000.
In an interview over DZBB, Navarro’s lawyer Atty. Alma Mallonga expressed confidence that her client will be released as soon as possible.
“Palagay ko hindi naman magkakaroon ng problema dahil kumpleto ang mga prerequisite (I don’t think there will be a problem because we have completed all the prerequisites),” she said. “We are going to comply with it within the day. We are confident that Mr. Navarro will be granted bail.”
The Court of Appeals’ 14th Division earlier reversed the decision of the Department of Justice in 2018 and 2020 that initially dismissed the rape and acts of lasciviousness complaints filed by Cornejo.
The DOJ previously decided that there was no probable cause for the allegations. In her declaration, Cornejo charged Navarro of raping her on January 17 and January 22, 2014.
Reporters were informed by Mallonga that her client would keep battling to establish his innocence, which is corroborated by CCTV evidence from an elevator on the day the alleged crime was committed.
He knows he is innocent. He knows he has people who will continue to believe in him and to help him…life goes on and we will continue fighting,” the lawyer added
In 2014, the NBI also obtained the CCTV footage. The agency said it supported Navarro’s claim that six men beat him up in Cornejo’s condominium, thus disproving the charges against the TV host.
“Hindi ako nawawalan ng pag-asa kasi nandito ‘yung legal team ko, nandito ‘yung family ko, nandito yung asawa ko. Ang Paginoon kasama ko dito sa laban na ‘to,” Navarro said.
The TV host also thanked his supporters and assured them he will continue working in his noontime show.
