Illegal detention case filed vs Cedric Lee, Deniece Cornejo, others

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday filed before the Taguig Regional Trial Court serious illegal detention case against Cedric Lee, Deniece Cornejo and several others on the alleged mauling of actor/comedian Vhong Navarro.

In a 42-page consolidated resolution released Thursday, aside from Lee and Cornejo, charged are Cedric’s sister Bernice, Simeon Raz, Jose Paolo Gregorio Calma, Ferdinand Guerrero and Sajed “Jed” Fernandez Abuhijleh.

No bail was recommended for their temporary liberty.

The alleged mauling incident took place last Jan. 22. The DOJ cited as among the basis of the case is the severe beatings and mauling supposedly inflicted by Cedric Lee’s group on Navarro as mentioned in the medico legal report and certificate issued by St. Luke’s Medical Center.

“In this case, the vivid recollection of complainant Navarro of what transpired on Jan. 22 from the time he entered the condominium unit of respondent Cornejo up to the time he was brought out of the said place indubitably shows that he was actually restrained or deprived of his liberty against his will and that makes respondents liable for serious illegal detention,” the DOJ resolution stated.

“It can only be gathered that during this period, there was no occasion for Navarro to free himself from captors, as they had beaten him up, pointed a gun at him and threatened him, once he was inside respondent Cornejo’s  unit, and even tied his hands at the back and was brought to the police station for a blotter to be taken…From a serious and introspective assessment of these facts, it can only be gleaned that Navarro was detained in a manner that deprived him of his liberty because of the serious physical injuries he sustained,” the resolution further stated.

The DOJ also dismissed the defense of Lee’s group that the money they demanded from Navarro was in a form of damages in favor of Cornejo.

The DOJ said the demand for money while Navarro is under their supposed custody is still considered “ransom.”

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