Cornejo, Lee camp: CCTV footage doesn't show whole story

The legal counsel for model-stylist Deniece Cornejo and businessman Cedric Lee questioned the authenticity of the closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) footage that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in its investigation into the mauling of actor-host Vhong Navarro.

 

"I don't know if it is authentic. I don't know if it has been tampered. What is not subject to tampering is a true narration of a believable witness," lawyer Howard Calleja said in GMA's "24 Oras" aired Thursday evening.

 

Calleja was referring to the CCTV footage turned over by Forbeswood Heights management to the NBI, Tuesday. The footage shows events on the night of Jan. 22 when the attack against the actor took place.

The NBI earlier said the CCTV video seems to support Navarro's affidavit and seems to refute Cornejo's rape allegation against the actor.
 

"Tugma ang CCTV footage sa testimony ni Vhong Navarro," said NBI-NCR assistant regional director Vicente De Guzman when the CCTV video footage was shown to the media Wednesday.

 

But Calleja said they are unfazed by this piece of evidence as it only shows a portion of the entire incident.

He said they have a new witness to support Cornejo's rape allegation against Navarro. He also said three women have already talked to him claiming they were also sexually molested by Navarro.

 

"They are telling me that, indeed, something happened between them and Vhong. Tinatanong nila kung makakatulong sa kaso," Calleja said, adding the women are contemplating filing separate complaints against Navarro.

 

He clarified, though, that they are not keen on using the testimonies of these women to support Cornejo's rape complaint against Navarro before the Taguig City Prosecutor's Office.

 

"If they (other alleged victims) would like to come out, then they come out with their own cases...It would be their own case against Vhong," Calleja said.

 

He said they are now readying a counter-affidavit to answer Navarro's testimony submitted to the NBI. Navarro said he was badly beaten by the suspects, particularly  near his genitalia. He also said they even took video of his sensitive parts.

 

"Wala hong nangyaring ganun... Ako, lalaki din e, siguro kung ginawa sa'kin yun... I don't know if I can be standing like I saw him standing signing the blotter," Calleja said. — Elizabeth Marcelo/JDS, GMA News