Vhong Navarro faces new rape case

LEGAL BATTLE. Vhong Navarro at the Department of Justice after being discharged from the hospital on February 6. Photo by Jose Del/Rappler

LEGAL BATTLE. Vhong Navarro at the Department of Justice after being discharged from the hospital on February 6.

Around 3 weeks after Deniece Cornejo filed a rape case against Vhong Navarro, the actor faces a new one, this time, filed by a young woman, reported ABS-CBN

UPDATE: The alleged victim has appeared in an exclusive interview aired on GMA 7’s 24 Oras, where she agreed to be identified by her real name, Roxanne Acosta. The report said that the 24-year-old found the courage to step out in public in order to fight for justice for what happened to her.

Speaking to DZMM, the complainant's lawyer, Virgilio Batalla said the complaint was filed to the Pasig City Prosecutor's office on Wednesday, February 19.

Batalla revealed that the alleged rape happened in 2010, but gave no other details saying his client had not given him the go signal to give specifics on the case.

When asked why his client waited a couple of years to file the complaint, Batalla explained that alleged victims have 20 years to file a case.

"Ang kasong rape ay may 20 years na prescription. Karamihan po sa mga kaso na rine-resolve ng Korte Suprema ay mga kasong matagal na na panahon. This is natural for a victim of rape na matagalan bago mag-file," he said.

Explaining how he became the complainant's lawyer, Batalla said that he is chairman of Lingap Pinoy, a foundation that provides free legal assistance to those in need.

Strength from Deniece

Batalla said his client approached him to ask for legal assistance around 5 days after the Vhong Navarro incident made headlines.

On January 22, Navarro sustained severe injuries after an alleged mauling incident in model Deniece Cornejo's condominium in The Fort. Navarro claimed he was a victim of extortion.

Cornejo, however, said Navarro attempted to rape her and that the actor's injuries were sustained after her friends Cedric Lee and company came to defend her. Cornejo, in late January, filed a rape case against Navarro.

In an earlier interview in Aquino and Abunda Tonight, Batalla said it was within her rights to decide when to file the case and that he cannot answer for his client's feelings. He furthered that his client only had the strength to come forward when news about the incident headlined.

"Lumapit sakin ang biktimang ito dahil nagkaroon ng lakas ng loob sa mga pangyayaring alam niyo na po 'yon...Yung pangyayaring may nagsampa ng kaso kay Vhong Navarro ng rape, dahil sa nakita niya na pwede palang mangyari ito nang paulit ulit sa mga babaeng katulad niya," he said.

Story by: rappler.com

Photo by: rappler.com