The Taguig Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 153 has reached a verdict, declaring businessman Cedric Lee and three co-defendants guilty of serious illegal detention for ransom in the case filed against them by actor Vhong Navarro.
After careful consideration, the court found Cedric Lee, Deniece Cornejo, Ferdinand Guerrero, and Simeon Raz guilty beyond reasonable doubt, sentencing them to reclusion perpetua.
Upon the pronouncement of the verdict, the court revoked the bail bond of the accused. Those present during the promulgation, including Raz and Cornejo, were promptly taken into custody, while arrest warrants were issued for Lee and Guerrero.
Furthermore, the RTC ordered the defendants to provide Navarro with compensation totaling P100,000 for civil indemnity, P100,000 for moral damages, and P100,000 for exemplary damages.
The court specified that all monetary awards would accumulate interest at the legal rate of 6% per annum from the finality of the judgment until fully paid.
Although Vhong Navarro was not physically present at the hearing, his legal representative, Atty. Alma Mallonga, conveyed his approval of the court’s decision.
In 2014, Cedric Lee and his associates faced allegations of unlawfully detaining Navarro and causing him severe physical harm.
