Police offer security to Vhong Navarro

Actor and TV host Vhong Navarro. SCREENGRAB FROM ABS-CBN INTERVIEW

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police (PNP) has offered Vhong Navarro security detail after the mauling incident involving the actor, model Deniece Millet Cornejo and businessman Cedric Lee.

Navarro’s lawyer Dennis Manalo said in a televised interview Friday that the PNP “offered to provide security.”

Manalo on Friday morning met with PNP chief of directorial staff police director Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas over Navarro’s request for police visibility in Navarro’s residence.

“We have been assured that they will immediately provide police visibility (so there) will be no further threats or attack on him,” the lawyer said.

He added that they do not need police escorts but only police presence in Navarro’s residence, especially after an unknown man was supposedly seen near the actor’s house.

Navarro has also been receiving anonymous threats in text messages, Manalo added.

In his affidavit to the National Bureau of Investigation, Navarro said he was inside Cornejo’s condominium unit when two men came out of the room and one pointed a gun at the comedian-TV host.

They then tied and blindfolded Navarro and simultaneously rained blows on him.

Navarro also claimed that, while he was stripped naked, video cameras were pointed at him and that the perpetrators ordered him to utter “Ako si Vhong, ni-rape ko ang kaibigan ko.” (I am Vhong and I raped my friend).

The actor’s affidavit also said that Cornejo and Lee agreed on their actions to attain their goal of restraining the liberty of Navarro as they threatened to kill him and his family and exact a payment of P2 million from Navarro’s alleged rape.

Lee has denied that they extorted money from Navarro.  Cornejo, on the other hand, has claimed that Navarro attempted to rape her.

RELATED STORIES

Vhong Navarro gets death threats, says lawyer

Zanjoe Marudo made first move in 2011, says Cornejo in affidavit

BIR checks taxes of Cedric Lee in wake of Navarro mauling controversy