Atty. Ferdinand Topacio will no longer represent Deniece Cornejo in her rape case against Kapamilya host-comedian Vhong Navarro.
In a series of tweets by ABS-CBN News reporter Niko Baua, on October 5, Topacio announced his departure from the Deniece Cornejo-Vhong Navarro rape case due to fundamental differences in handling the case.
“Just in: Atty. Ferdinand Topacio is no longer the counsel of Deniece Cornejo in her rape case against Vhong Navarro. In a statement, Topacio explained that there has been a fundamental difference in the management of the case caused by certain people.”
Just in: Atty. Ferdinand Topacio is no longer the counsel of Deniece Cornejo in her rape case against Vhong Navarro. In a statement, Topacio explained that there has been a fundamental difference in the management of the case caused by certain people.
— Niko Baua (@Nikobaua) October 5, 2022
Topacio said that he “does not wish to pursue the current direction of the case, and “in good conscience and ethics” cannot continue his services.”
Topacio further explained that he does not wish to pursue the current direction of the case, and “in good conscience and ethics”, cannot continue his services.
— Niko Baua (@Nikobaua) October 5, 2022
He then stated that due to those differences he is “dissociating and distancing himself” from the prosecution of Vhong Navarro.
“I wish to state that I am henceforth dissociating and distancing myself from the prosecution of Mr. Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro in the rape case filed by Ms. Deniece Cornejo against him.”
Atty. Ferdinand Topacio’s Statement – “I wish to state that I am henceforth dissociating and distancing myself from the prosecution of Mr. Ferdinand "Vhong" Navarro in the rape case filed by Ms. Deniece Cornejo against him.
— Niko Baua (@Nikobaua) October 5, 2022
“I have represented Ms. Cornejo as her counsel of record in the case of serious illegal detention against her filed by Mr. Navarro all these years upon the request of her family, especially Mr. Rod Cornejo, a friend of mine of long standing, until bail was granted to Ms. Cornejo and her co-accused, as affirmed by the Court of Appeals.
“I have also coordinated with Atty. Karen Jimeno in the filing of rape charges against Mr. Navarro. Our group, the Citizens Crime Watch, has also taken the cudgels for Ms. Cornejo after the Court of Appeals ordered the filing of rape charges against Mr. Navarro.
“I have done all these in the interest of attaining justice for Ms. Cornejo before the courts. There are certain people, however, who are trying to take the case in a direction which I do not wish to pursue as an advocate,” Topacio further explained.
I have represented Ms. Cornejo as her counsel of record in the case of serious illegal detention against her filed by Mr. Navarro all these years upon the request of her family, especially Mr. Rod Cornejo, a friend of mine of long standing, until bail was granted to Ms. Cornejo
— Niko Baua (@Nikobaua) October 5, 2022
and her co-accused, as affirmed by the Court of Appeals. I have also coordinated with Atty. Karen Jimeno in the filing of rape charges against Mr. Navarro. Our group, the Citizens Crime Watch, has also taken the cudgels for Ms. Cornejo after the Court of Appeals ordered the
— Niko Baua (@Nikobaua) October 5, 2022
filing of rape charges against Mr. Navarro. I have done all these in the interest of attaining justice for Ms. Cornejo before the courts. There are certain people, however, who are trying to take the case in a direction which I do not wish to pursue as an advocate.
— Niko Baua (@Nikobaua) October 5, 2022
With this fundamental difference in managing the case, I cannot in good conscience and ethics continue to be part of the proceedings.
— Niko Baua (@Nikobaua) October 5, 2022
Topacio, however, added that he is still willing to assist Cornejo in other cases if he will be needed.
“We shall, however, continue to assist Ms. Cornejo in the other cases she wishes to bring against those who have caused her damages through scurrilous libel, as she has manifested to me earlier, if she still so wishes.”
We shall, however, continue to assist Ms. Cornejo in the other cases she wishes to bring against those who have caused her damages through scurrilous libel, as she has manifested to me earlier, if she still so wishes.
— Niko Baua (@Nikobaua) October 5, 2022
Topacio previously pushed for the transfer of Vhong to the Taguig City jail. He also threatened to file contempt charges against Vhong’s wife, Tanya, and his lawyer Atty. Alma Mallonga over their public pronouncements regarding the case.
Navarro voluntarily surrendered at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday, September 19, following Taguig Metropolitan Trial Court’s (MTC) arrest warrant for the charge of acts of lasciviousness filed by model Deniece Cornejo.
He posted bail amounting to 36,000.
On the following day, Tuesday, September 20, Navarro again voluntarily surrendered to the NBI after another arrest warrant for the rape case was issued by the Taguig RTC Branch 69.
Currently, he is detained at the NBI Quezon City headquarters because rape is a non-bailable offense
