THE Taguig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) has allowed television (TV) host Vhong Navarro to post a bail bond of P1 million on the rape case filed against him by model Deniece Millinete Cornejo.

In a 29-page order dated December 5, 2022, Branch 69 Presiding Judge Loralie Cruz Datahan said: “Viewed in light of all the foregoing, and taking the evidence presented in the bail hearings as a whole, this Court is not convinced at this point, that there exists a presumption great leading to the inference of the accused’s guilt.”

But the court pointed out that the grant of bail to Navarro will not prevent it, “as the trier of facts,” from conducting a full-blown trial on the merits of the controversial rape case.

On September 19, Navarro, Ferdinand H. Navarro, in real life, surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) following the issuance of a warrant of arrest against him.

Judge Loralie Datahan recommended no bail for Navarro’s temporary liberty.

Also, the Court of Appeals (CA) 14th Division in a September 20, 2022 resolution, denied the motions for reconsideration and issuance of a status quo ante order sought by Navarro.

Last month, he was transferred from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Detention Center to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) jail in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig.

Navarro’s transfer came after the Taguig RTC issued a commitment order for Navarro, Ferdinand H. Navarro, in real life.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Hector Lawas