PNP urges Cedric Lee to surrender

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday called on Cedric Lee and another accused to surrender after a court found them guilty of illegally detaining host and actor Vhong Navarro in 2014.

“Mag-voluntary surrender na lang po sila doon sa pinakamalapit na istasyon sa kanila o they can get through their lawyers, so that they could arrange po yung possible voluntary surrender po nila,” PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo told reporters.

(They should just voluntarily surrender at the nearest police station or they can get through their lawyers to arrange their possible voluntary surrender.)

“Nonetheless po, yung ating mga akusado naman po ay they have the right to exercise and exhaust all lagal remedies available to them to file a motion for reconsideration or even appeal this case po to the proper forum,” she added.

(Nonetheless, they have the right to exercise and exhaust all legal remedies available to them, to file a motion for reconsideration or even appeal this case to the proper forum.)

In a 94-page decision, the Taguig Regional Trial Court-Branch 153 found Lee, Deniece Cornejo, Ferdinand Guerrero, and Simeon Raz guilty beyond reasonable doubt of serious illegal detention for ransom under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code.

A sentence of reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years imprisonment has been imposed on the accused.

"It is all too apparent that the accused planned and premeditated to restrain Vhong Navarro to extort money from him. Proof of their agreement is inferred from their conduct before, during, and after the commission of the crime," the court said.

According to the court, the conduct of the accused showed "a common understanding between them" on the commission of the crime.

The court also canceled the bail bond of the accused.

Navaro’s legal counsel Atty. Alma Mallonga said Raz and Cornejo, who personally attended the promulgation, were committed immediately by the court.

"They asked for consideration. Ang sabi ng court, my ruling stands. And ang ruling ng court is for Ms. Cornejo and Mr. Simeon Raz who were there to already be committed," Mallonga said in an interview

"As far as Mr. Cedric Lee and Ferdinand Guerrero were concerned, they were ordered arrested and they will also be committed as soon as they are found," she added. --VAL, GMA Integrated News