TELEVISION host Vhong Navarro yesterday expressed his gratitude and a sense of vindication after the Supreme Court (SC) dismissed the charges of rape and acts of lasciviousness filed against him.

In a statement, Navarro, whose real name is Ferdinand H. Navarro, said that the decision restored his faith in the justice system.

“Sobrang thankful po ako. Dahil pinakinggan ulit ni Lord ang dasal ko. May mga pagkakataon kasi nawalan na ko ng pag asa sa justice system natin nung nasa loob ako. Dahil sa ginawa ng Supreme Court nabalik ulit ang tiwala ko sa Justice system ng Pilipinas.”

“Alam ko hindi pa final to pero laking pagpapasalamat ko na sa kanila. Nag papasalamat din ako sa legal team ko, sa Abs Cbn , Kay Direk Chito, sa pamilya at mga kaibigan ko at sa mga naniniwala sa akin dahil hindi nila ko pinbayaan at iniwan sa pinaka down na buhay ko,” he said in a statement.

The Third Division of the Supreme Court dismissed the rape and acts of lasciviousness against Navarro.

This decision reversed the Court of Appeals’ rulings in July 2021 and September 2022, which had overturned the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) resolutions dismissing the charges against Navarro.

In a 43-page decision written by Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul Inting, the High Tribunal said the Appellate Court have “erred in finding that the DOJ committed grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction in dismissing the third complaint for rape and attempted rape against Navarro for lack of probable cause.”

Associate Justices Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, Samuel Gaerlan, Japar Dimaampao, and Maria Filomena Singh concurred in Inting’s ruling.

The charges were filed by model Deniece Millinete Cornejo.

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Hector Lawas