“DAHIL sa ginawa ng Supreme Court nagbalik ulit ang tiwala ko sa Justice system ng Pilipinas.”

Thus said television host Vhong Navarro on Tuesday as he expressed his gratitude and a sense of vindication as the Supreme Court (SC) ruled in his favor, dismissing the charges of rape and acts of lasciviousness brought against him.

In a statement, Navarro, whose real name is Ferdinand H. Navarro, stated 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 kase nawalan na ako 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. Nagpapasalamat 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 pinabayaan at iniwan sa pinaka-down ng buhay ko,” he said in a statement.

The 3rd Division of the Supreme Court has dismissed the rape and acts of lasciviousness charges filed against Navarro.

The decision overturned 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 appellate court was found to 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.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Hector Lawas