COMEDIAN-TELEVISION host Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro was detained at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday after a Taguig court issued a second warrant of arrest against him this time in connection WITH THE RAPE COMPLAINT fiLED BY MODEL Deniece Cornejo.

Rape case is not bailable under Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code as amended by Republic Act 8353.

The arrest warrant was issued by Taguig City Regional Trial Court Branch 69 Judge Loralie Datahan hours after Navarro surrendered to the NBI and was subsequently granted bail of P36,000 in the case for acts of lasciviousness on Monday.

“While Vhong was granted bail already in the case for acts of lasciviousness that was filed against

him, just before 5 o’clock on the same day (Monday), an arrest warrant was issued against him for the case of purported rape,” Navarro’s legal counsel Alma Mallonga said.

“This is the rape complaint where Deniece Cornejo herself said it did not happen in two sworn declarations. Because a warrant of arrest has already been issued, Vhong again surrendered to the NBI. And his detention with the NBI, as a result of his voluntary surrender, is being processed. The custody of Vhong is now with the NBI,” she added.

Mallonga said they will file a petition for bail in the rape case even if it is non-bailable.

“Navarro has voluntarily surrendered also in connection with the rape complaint, and he is currently detained. Under the laws and the procedure, he will continue to be detained until bail is granted to him. That will require the petition for bail to be filed, and we will do it immediately. Our first and foremost duty, I think, in this case, is to set Mr. Vhong Navarro free on bail,” she added.

The Court of Appeals’ 14th Division earlier reversed the decision of the Department of Justice (DoJ) in 2018 and 2020 that initially dismissed the rape and acts of lasciviousness complaints filed by Cornejo.

The DoJ previously ruled that the complaints lacked probable cause. Cornejo in her affidavit accused Navarro of raping her on Jan. 17 and 22, 2014.

The CA then directed the City Prosecutor of Taguig City to file rape after finding sexual intercourse was sought forcibly.