Deniece Cornejo's camp to file contempt charges against Vhong Navarro's wife and lawyer
Deniece Cornejo's camp is set to file a case against Vhong Navarro's wife Tanya Bautista, as well as his lawyer Atty. Alma Mallonga, for making statements that are allegedly "sub judice in nature" or are prohibited from public discussion.
Cornejo's lead counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, announced the news in a recent tweet. "Now preparing contempt charges against Atty. Alma Mallonga and Vhong Navarro's wife for making statements that are sub judice in nature," he wrote.
"We will not sit idly by while some people again make a mockery of justice by having another trial by publicity. THEY WILL BE HELD LIABLE!"
Now preparing contempt charges against Atty. Alma Mallonga and Vhong Navarro's wife for making statements that are sub judice in nature. We will not sit idly by while some people again make a mockery of justice by having another trial by publicity. THEY WILL BE HELD LIABLE!
— YesYesYo! (@YesYesYo13) September 21, 2022
In a Viber message to Pilipino Star Ngayon, Topacio further said that they will file the contempt raps as soon as possible and that they deliberating on suing Vhong's lawyer.
"We are just collating all their public pronouncements that are sub judice. We are also contemplating filing disciplinary action against Atty. Mallonga," Topacio said.
The tweet was made a day after Bautista broke her silence on the issue of her husband's 2014 rape case that emerged again after eight years. In a press conference, Bautista raised concerns that Vhong being imprisoned at Taguig City Jail was "very scary" and a "threat" to the actor's life.
"Threat ‘yun sa buhay niya. Basta very scary, very scary for Vhong... Natatakot ako for him na ilipat siya sa Taguig," Bautista said.
Topacio argued against her claims, noting that Vhong being detained in Taguig is only right as it was the Taguig City court that had jurisdiction over his case.
The Cornejo vs. Vhong case dates back in 2014, when the model accused Vhong of raping her in a Taguig condominium in January that year. Four years later in 2018, a Taguig court found Cornejo, businessman Cedric Lee, and Jed Fernandez guilty of grave coercion after Vhong said that they had assaulted him on the same night to admit the accusations.
In 2020, however, the Court of Appeals reversed previous decisions dismissing Cornejo's claims by the Department of Justice and had the City Prosecutor of Taguig City revive the case.
This prompted the It's Showtime host to surrender to the National Bureau of Investigation after a warrant of arrest was issued against him.