Cornejo, Raz now in BuCor custody

MANILA, Philippines — Model Deniece Cornejo and mixed martial arts practitioner Simeon Raz are in the custody of the Bureau of Corrections following their conviction for the illegal detention for ransom of actor-host Vhong Navarro, BuCor chief Gregorio Catapang Jr. said yesterday.

In a statement, Catapang said Cornejo and Raz were admitted to the Reception and Diagnostic Centers (RDCs) of the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong and the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa, respectively.

As a matter of procedure, newly committed inmates are received at the RDC for an initial interview and checkup, Catapang explained.

“He or she will be placed in the quarantine cell for a period of five days with no visiting privileges, followed by diagnostic procedures that include medical, sociological, psychological, educational and classification processes for 55 days,” Catapang said.

Both Cornejo and Raz, along with businessman Cedric Lee and his business partner Ferdinand Guerrero, were earlier sentenced by a Taguig Court to life in prison in connection with the case filed by Navarro.

Cornejo and Raz, who were present in court, were immediately detained and committed.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla commended Antipolo City Prosecutor Mari Elvira Herrera, Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Hazel Decena-Valdez and Deputy State Prosecutor Olivia Torrevillas “for successfully prosecuting the case.”

Lee, who did not attend the promulgation, surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday night.

Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 153 Judge Mariam Biem yesterday issued a commitment order for Lee to be transferred to the NBP.

The BuCor, however, has yet to receive Lee’s commitment order.

The court has issued a warrant for the arrest of Guerrero, who remains at large.

Catapang said the BuCor has yet to determine where Lee and Raz would be detained since the bureau has an ongoing decongestion program.

Reconsideration

Lee told reporters at the NBI that he would file a motion for reconsideration before the Court of Appeals, insisting that no illegal detention occurred.

“We did not detain him for more than three days, just a few minutes to bring him to the police. We never inflicted any serious physical injuries,” Lee said.

Lee also denied asking Navarro for money and described the incident as a “scuffle” that resulted in slight injuries.

Navarro’s lawyer, Alma Mallonga, cited the Supreme Court’s findings that stated there was no evidence to justify Navarro’s alleged illegal detention.

She added that the illegal detention is clear and that the actor suffered serious injuries, based on court evidence.

NBI Director Medardo de Lemos himself picked up Lee in Mandaluyong and brought him to the NBI headquarters in Quezon City after Lee sent feelers for his surrender.

The NBI will return the copy of the arrest warrant to the Taguig court, De Lemos said.

Cornejo’s legal team said it is exploring the possibility of appealing the verdict. — Mark Ernest Villeza