Another person in the group of Deniece Cornejo and Cedric Lee is working on a deal with authorities to turn on their alleged co-conspirators, according to reports.
Several weeks ago, the first reports about one of the group of seven wanting to become a state witness emerged. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima recently named that person as Jed Fernandez but said that he has since reconsidered.
It’s been speculated that the second person may be Cornejo, a prospect that Vhong Navarro’s lawyer Alma Mallonga is not too keen on.
“Unfortunately, it is not up to us. It’s up to the court,” Mallonga said during an interview on “Bandila” this week. “There are requirements in order for you to be a state witness, and you must not appear to be the most guilty. What do you think?”
Mallonga was referring to how Cornejo has accused Navarro of rape in two separate instances, but neither have moved forward in the court of law due to lack of evidence.
But Navarro’s lawyer is confident of the case, and said she’s lined up a host of witnesses including the doctor who treated the actor and ABS-CBN host after he was beaten.
“When [Navarro] testified in court, I was very happy,” Mallonga said, referring to the hearing last Friday, reported ABS-CBN. “I presented him. He answered all the questions. It’s very easy to testify when you know your story very well, when you’re just telling your truth.”
Mallonga added: “We were never afraid. He was able to answer all the questions on cross. And in the course of the cross-examination, I'd like to think that he was able to further fortify his story.”
