Denice Cornejo, Bernice Lee plead not guilty to grave coercion raps

(Updated 10:16 a.m.) Model-stylist Deniece Cornejo and Bernice Lee on Thursday pleaded not guilty to the grave coercion charges filed against her and several others in connection with the January 22 mauling of TV host-actor Vhong Navarro.

 

Cornejo and Lee were arraigned before the Taguig Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 74, said Navarro's legal counsel, lawyer Alma Mallonga, in a phone interview with GMA News Online.

Bernice is the sister of businessman Cedric Lee, himself implicated in the two cases stemming from the mauling incident.

 

On the other hand, Mallonga said the court has ordered the arrest of another suspect, Jed Fernandez, for his failure to show up at the arraignment.

 

"Jed Fernandez filed a motion for suspension for proceedings, but it was denied," she said, noting that the court found "no basis" for the suspension.

 

"His bail was canceled, and a warrant of arrest was issued," she added.

 

After the hearing, Cornejo was immediately brought back to her detention cell at Camp Crame, a report on radio dzBB said.

 

Cornejo, who surrendered to the Philippine National Police on Monday, arrived at the Taguig court shortly before 8 a.m. on Tuesday. She is also facing charges of serious illegal detention, a non-bailable offense. 

 

On the other hand, Navarro, who was accompanied by Mallonga and his girlfriend, arrived shortly before 9 a.m. — RSJ, GMA News