Court of Appeals Orders Release of Deniece Cornejo
DENIECE CORNEJO – The former model is expected to be released early next week after the Court of Appeals (CA) ordered her release and reduced her prison sentence in the serious illegal detention case involving actor and TV host Vhong Navarro.
Cornejo was detained in May 2024 after she was convicted by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Taguig for serious illegal detention for ransom. She was accused, along with businessman Cedric Lee, Ferdinand Guerrero, and Simeon Palma Raz, of detaining Navarro inside a condominium unit.
Navarro previously alleged that he was beaten and held against his will before the group demanded ₱2 million for his release.
The trial court had sentenced Cornejo and the other accused to reclusion perpetua. However, the Court of Appeals later reduced Cornejo’s sentence after finding that the penalty imposed by the trial court was too high.
Her lawyer, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, said the nearly two years Cornejo spent in detention will be counted as time served. Because of this, she is considered to have completed the sentence under the reduced penalty.
Topacio also shared the Court of Appeals’ release order and confirmed that Cornejo is now being processed for release. The Public Attorney’s Office and other lawyers are helping complete the documents required before she can leave detention. Cornejo’s release is expected to take place in the early part of next week once the necessary paperwork is completed.
The case dates back to 2014, when Navarro accused Cornejo and the other defendants of holding him at a condominium in Taguig. The case went through several legal proceedings before the trial court issued its conviction.
The latest Court of Appeals ruling changes Cornejo’s sentence and allows her previous detention period to be credited toward the reduced penalty. Her release will proceed after the required legal and administrative documents are finalized.
