Deniece Cornejo now in police custody

(Updated 8:12 p.m.) Model-stylist Deniece Cornejo surrendered on Monday to the Philippine National Police (PNP), a few weeks after a court ordered her arrest for the January 22 mauling of actor-TV host Vhong Navarro.

Cornejo surrended past 4 p.m. to PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima at the PNP Headquarters in Camp Crame, GMA News TV's “Balita Pilipinas” reported. She was accompanied by her great-uncle Rod Cornejo and lawyers Connie Aquino and Arleo Magtibay.

“There's this feeling of relief, lahat kami sa family. Mas safe na yung nandito kesa yung nagtatago sa labas at maraming naghahabol at naghahanap sakanya,” Rod said in a separate report on “24 Oras.”

Purisima said there will be no special treatment for Cornejo.

“She will be treated like any other detainee, but syempre she is a woman, kaya nga Women and Children Protection Center ang pinagdalhan natin sa kanya who will prepare the necessary papers para kanyang return of warrant,” Purisima said in the “24 Oras” report.



From one place to another

PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong said based on the investigation of their tracking team, Cornejo stayed in several places outside Metro Manila before she decided to surrender.

“Gusto lang niya sigurong mapag-isa rin. Gusto rin niya sigurong mapahiwalay dun sa kanyang mga kasamahan kaya nag-decide siya na pumunta sa Philippine National Police. Alam mo, ang titignan mo diyan ay kung saan ka ba komportable,” Magalong said.

In the “24 Oras” report, Cornejo said she did not intend to hide from authorities for too long, adding she moved from one place to another only because of the threats that she and her family had been receiving.



Family decision

Cornejo's grandfather, Axel Gonzales, said it was the whole family who decided to surrender her to the PNP.

“We deemed it wise na i-surrender na lang siya sa PNP. Pero wala namang diperensya sa NBI, walang problema, pareho naman silang law enforcement agency ng government,” Gonzales said.

Cornejo is set to be presented to Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 271 Judge Paz Esperanza M. Cortes, who issued a warrant of arrest against her, businessman Cedric Lee and three others for the non-bailable case of serious illegal detention in connection with the mauling of Navarro.


The three detainees and four other suspects are facing a separate case of grave coercion in relation to the mauling incident.
Fingerprints and mug shots

A dzBB report quoted lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, who said he was representing the Cornejo family and not Deniece, as saying there was a "prior arrangement" for her to show up at the police headquarters.

At Camp Crame's Women and Children Protection Desk, Cornejo underwent booking proceedings where she had her fingerprints and mug shots taken.

“Everything was cordial and malumanay naman po. Maayos naman ang pagpunta niya dito sa Camp Crame,” PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac, said in a separate interview with GMA News TV's Quick Response Team.

Sindac said the PNP has yet to discuss with the Taguig court and Cornejo's lawyers where the model-stylist will be detained.

Praying with family

Hours before she surrendered, Cornejo led a prayer with her family, a separate report on “24 Oras” said.

“Alam ko po na sa lahat ng pagsubok ay meron kayong mensahe para sa bawat isa. Maraming salamat po at wala akong pinagsisisihan sa aking pinagdadaanan,” Cornejo said during a prayer, footage of which was shown on the “24 Oras” report.