Court allows Deniece, Cedric, Raz to post bail

MANILA, Philippines - A Taguig court yesterday allowed model Deniece Cornejo, businessman Cedric Lee and Simeon Palma “Zimmer” Raz to post bail in connection with the beating and illegal detention of television host and actor Vhong Navarro.

Citing the weakness of evidence, Judge Paz Esperanza Cortes of the Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 271 granted the bail petitions of the three.

The court set a bail of P500,000 each.

“The prosecution failed to provide strong evidence against the accused,” Cortes said in her 72-page decision.

The court said while the accused immediately turned over Navarro to the police after he allegedly raped Cornejo, and there was a possible demand for money in exchange for the release of a video and trashing of the police blotter, “it is clear… that the motive for that alleged illegal detention by the accused of the complainant is unclear.”

Cornejo is being held at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at Camp Crame.

Lee and Raz, on the other hand, are detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.

The three were accused of beating Navarro inside Cornejo’s condominium unit in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig on Jan. 22.

Axel Gonzalez, lawyer for Cornejo, said she would post bail within the week.

‘Court decision shocking’

Alma Mallonga, counsel for Navarro, described the court’s decision as “shocking.”

She said they would file a motion to contest the ruling.

“We are very saddened by the court decision, but we are more determined than ever to put this right. We are determined that we will get justice,” she added.

Mallonga added that with Cornejo, Lee and Raz out on bail, there is nothing to prevent them from leaving the country.  

Two other accused in the case – Cedric’s sister Bernice Cua Lee and Jose Paolo Calma – have been cleared by the court.

Cortes had ordered the dismissal of the complaint of serious illegal detention against Bernice and Calma for lack of probable cause.

Serious illegal detention is a non-bailable offense. The court, however, may allow bail in cases where the evidence of guilt is not strong.