Cornejo tells Navarro: ‘This is not a movie, this is real life, man up’

By: Bong Lozada - 10 years ago

CORNEJO, NAVARRO, LEE

MANILA, Philippines—The only damsel in the middle of the joust has told one of the riders to “man up.”

In a television interview Sunday, Deniece Millet Cornejo aired her version on the controversy and told her alleged rapist Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro to be responsible for his actions.

“Kuya Vhong this is not a movie, this is real life, man up. The people who saved me, they manned up,” a teary Cornejo said while making hand movements.

Aside from ventilating her sentiments, Cornejo also gave some insights about Cedric Lee and the latter’s friends, stressing that they all belonged to decent families, and it Navarro who dragged them into the mess.

“People say that these guys have the connections, they are rich, they became rich because of hard work,” she said.

She said that the TV interview was her only chance to defend Lee and her other friends who saved her from being allegedly raped.

In a bid to sway public sympathy, Cornejo maintained she is the victim and not Navarro.

“If there was someone harshly humiliated here, that’s not you, it’s me.”

Yet towards the end of the interview, Cornejo softened a bit, She said she would still pray for Navarro and his family.

“Kuya Vhong, I will still pray for you, for your fast recovery, and that your family to understand who I am,” she said.