Actor-host Vhong Navarro announced that he will not allow an out of the court settlement regarding the grave coercion case he filed against controversial model Deniece Cornejo, businessman Cedric Lee and six others in relation with his mauling last January 22, 2014.
The grave coercion case he filed recently has undergone mediation on Monday, June 2, 2014 at the Taguig City Metropolitan Court Branch 74. Vhong Navarro was absent during the hearing and he was requested to attend the second mediation proceeding which is set on July 7, 2014.
“That is not going to happen. Vhong is determined to pursue the case to the end,” his legal counsel Atty. Alma Mallonga told The Philippine Star and other members of the press. “But the rules require, with respect to less grave felonies, like grave coercion, that the civil aspect of the case undergo mediation,” she further added.
According to Atty. Mallonga, the “It’s Showtime” co-host need not to appear on the investigation personally as he can participate on the mediation through his lawyers or representatives.
Aside from Deniece Cornejo and Cedric Lee, his sister Bernice, Simeon “Zimmer Raz” Palma, Jed Fernandez, Ferdinand Guerrero and Jose Paolo “JP” Calma who left the country last April 10, 2014 are also facing the same charges.
Deniece Cornejo is currently under the custody of the CIDG at Camp Crame where she celebrate her 23rd birthday which was attended by fellow complainant Roxanne Cabanero.
Cedric Lee and Zimmer Raz on the other hand are still in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). The two were arrested via entrapment operation in Oras, Eastern Samar last April.
