Vhong Navarro lawyer: We can do away with state witnesses

The lawyer of TV host-actor Vhong Navarro on Monday said they don't need state witnesses to win their cases against Cedric Lee and six others.

In an interview with reporters, lawyer Alma Mallonga said they are aware of reports of a suspect in the January 22 mauling of Navarro wanting to become state witness.

"[Pero] we are very confident about our case, with or without this supposed state witness. We were prepared to move forward ng wala tayong state witness and kumpyansa kami doon sa completeness and strength of our evidence, we can proceed," she said.

However, Mallonga said if ever one of the suspects indeed apply to become state witness and is eventually allowed by the court, their camp would respect it.

"The particular consequences on [turning state witness] is not for us to determine. But I am sure under the law and procedure, baka meron kayong some kind of a remedy if you tell the truth," she admitted.

"But in the meantime, we are not waiting for any other witness, we are ready right now," she added.

Last April 21, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima confirmed that one of the suspects in the mauling of Navarro has expressed intention to become a state witness.

De Lima said the suspect, whom she refused to identify for security purposes, has already coordinated with the Witness Protection Program.

De Lima said that according to the suspect, they branded their operation against Navarro as "Oplan Bugbog (Operation Plan Mauling).”

A suspect or an accused may be placed under WPP coverage, giving him or her the privilege of getting government protection, but it is the court which decides whether he or she could be converted into a state witness.

Apart from Lee, the other suspects in the mauling incident are model Deniece Cornejo, Sajed "Jed" Fernandez Abun alias Jed Fernandez, Simeon Palma Raz Jr., Ferdinand Guererro, Jose Paolo "JP" Calma, and Lee's sister Bernice.

Navarro has filed grave coercion and serious illegal detention complaints against the suspects. –KBK, GMA News