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Lookout order issued vs Deniece Cornejo, Cedric Lee, 3 others


(Updated 5:36 p.m.) The Department of Justice issued a lookout bulletin order on Thursday afternoon against five people allegedly involved in the mauling of television host Vhong Navarro last January 22.
 
The subjects of the LBO are Deniece Cornejo, Cedric Lee and his sister Bernice, Ferdinand Guerrero and Zimmer Rance.
 
Bureau of Immigration spokesperson Maan Pedro said the LBO was sent to them around 12 noon, January 30.

A photo of the cover page of the lookout bulletin order (LBO) issued by the Department of Justice on January 29, 2014, against Deniece Cornejo, Cedric Lee and three other suspects in the alleged mauling of actor and TV host Vhong Navarro. Lia Mañalac
But despite the order, Cornejo and the four others can still leave the country.
 
“Kung walang basehan to hold their departure, hindi namin sila pwedeng pigilin," Pedro earlier told GMA News Online in a phone interview.

A GMA News TV Live report quoted lawyer Howard Calleja, counsel for Cornejo and Lee, as saying that his clients have no plans of leaving the country.

An LBO's purpose is to monitor an individual and not necessarily restrict him or her from leaving the country. A hold departure order is needed to prevent them from flying out.

It is issued upon the request of a head of a government agency, a constitutional body or commission, Chief Justice for the judiciary, Senate President or House Speaker for the legislasture, according to the Department of Justice's Circular 41 issued on June 7, 2010.

Previously, the DOJ also issues hold departure orders against any person with pending criminal cases.

But the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order barring the agency from issuing watchlist orders and HDOs, pending the resolution of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's petition contesting the DOJ's power to issue such travel restrictions.

 
The DOJ only started issuing LBOs in 2012.
 
Complaints of serious illegal detention, serious physical injury, grave threat, illegal arrest and coercion were filed against Cornejo; Lee; Bernice Lee; Rance, reportedly a martial arts expert; and two John Does for allegedly mauling Navarro on January 22.
 
Cornejo accused Navarro of attempting to rape her which the latter has vehemently denied. She also said she is innocent and "a victim."
 
The Department of Justice has also assigned prosecutors to handle the complaint filed by Navarro.
 
Tasked to conduct preliminary investigation and, if evidence warrants, file the information before the court were Assistant State Prosecutors Olivia Torrevillas, Hazel Decena-Valdez and Marie Elvira Herrera. — with Andrei Medina/RSJ/LBG/KBK, GMA News