Vhong's camp asks Mar's help

MANILA, Philippines - The camp of TV host Vhong Navarro has asked Interior Secretary Mar Roxas for security amid the mauling incident at the Forbeswood Heights condominium at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City last January 22.

Navarro's lawyer, Dennis Manalo, said in a televised interview with reporters that he asked Roxas on Friday morning for help to secure his client, who is still recovering at the hospital.

Manalo said that they decided to seek Roxas' help because of a "suspicious incident" that happened at Navarro's condominium unit, but he declined to elaborate.

There reports linking Cedric Lee, one of the most prominent suspect in the mauling and alleged extortion of Navarro, to high-ranking police officials.

The reports said that Lee's business partners are former police generals.

Read: Cedric, partner of ex-PNP generals

Manalo said that the Philippine National Police has positively responded to their request for security detail. He said that the police has assured that the TV host will be monitored "immediately."

Filmmaker Chito Roño, who is also Navarro's talent manager, had said that the actor still fears for his life and is still experiencing trauma from the assault.

"I would say there are moments na nararamdaman pa rin niya yung trauma. Natatakot siyang mag-isa. Gusto niya laging may kausap," Roño told the media.

Roño said Navarro's friends and family are taking the threats seriously to make sure that the actor would always be watched.

"We want to be sure that he gets the security he deserves," Roño said.

Navarro is also being prevented by his friends and family from watching TV and reading news about the mauling case as these may affect his recovery.

The actor's camp has filed several criminal charges against the group of Lee and model Deniece Cornejo, who has also filed a rape case against Navarro.

Lee claimed that they mauled Navarro after they caught the TV host in the act of raping Cornejo insider her rented condo unit at the Forbeswood Heights.