Photo of Vhong Navarro signing blotter report at SPD-DIDMS last Jan. 22, 2014. Photo from SPD
MANILA, Philippines–Taguig City Police said on Tuesday said that they have invited Vhong Navarro, businessman Cedric Lee, model Deniece Cornejo and others involved in the alleged mauling of the actor-TV host to speak before the police as part of their investigation.
Senior Superintendent Arthur Felix Asis, Taguig City police chief, said in a press briefing that they have already summoned on Monday both parties to appear before the police in three days.
“But their appearance still depend on their availability because the National Bureau of Investigation investigates also the case,” Asis said.
He said the camp of Navarro has given their assurance to accommodate the police invitation but there is no word yet from Lee and Cornejo.
“We have not spoken yet to both parties. It’s very important that we talk to them because we cannot say anything conclusive yet,” Asis said.
Aside from the NBI, the Taguig police also launched on Monday an investigation five days after Navarro was beaten up by six to seven men after allegedly attempting to rape Cornejo in her BGC condominium.
Speed up probe
Asis said they are targetting “thorough and careful” investigation on Navarro’s beating allegedly masterminded by Lee and Cornejo in Forbeswood Residences, Bonifacio Global City on the night of Jan. 22.
“We want to investigate this carefully. We would like to have a result that would be convincing,” Asis said.
The Taguig police chief pointed that they are “doing their best” to speed up the probe but there are certain processes that they cannot be done hastily.
“We can produce results as soon as tomorrow. Only they are (inaccurate),” he added.
He also clarified its role on the mauling probe, saying its task is to only look into the incident, not to file a case against the offending party.
“What we are tasked to do is to investigate on the incident, what really happened. We have to know the circumstances that led to the incident,” he explained.
Latest development
Asked what is the recent development in their probe, Asis said the police have already taken statements from reliable sources and documents from Southern Police District.
“But we cannot go through the very detail (on the statement of source persons). In some instances, there are sources who do not want to be identified but his statement are significant to the investigation,” he said.
Earlier Tuesday, media reports said Navarro signed a six-page sworn statement before NBI agents, who went to the hospital where he was admitted.
Navarro will file grave threat, serious physical injuries, black mail and illegal detention against Cornejo, Lee and others.
“Pare-pareho lang tayo ng kagustuhan na magkaroon ng katapusan o linaw sa nangyari sa Forbeswood Residences (We all want to shed light on the case in Forbeswood Residences and put this to closure),” Asis added.
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