Friday, February 14, 2014

Court junks Deniece Cornejo's petition for TPO against Vhong Navarro

By    February 14, 2014 //
Deniece Cornejo's petition for Temporary Protection Order (TPO) against comedian-TV host Vhong Navarro was junked by the Taguig Metropolitan Trial Court on Friday, February 14, 2014.

Cornejo attended the hearing together with her lawyer, Atty. Howard Calleja. Navarro's lawyer Atty. Alma Mallonga was also there albeit without her client who attended the hearing of the cases he filed against Cornejo, Lee and his group at the Department of Justice.

Judge Lorifel Pahimna of the Taguig MTC Branch 69 dismissed Cornejo's petition for a TPO which would have prevented Navarro from getting near Cornejo, and which would also have prevented him and the media from talking about the case. The judge saw no basis for the petition.

The decision of the court was explained by Atty. Mallonga.

"The petition seeks relief that is not really within the powers of the court to grant, which is a gag order against all TV stations, all social media, any third persons," Mallonga told the media. "The court, however, eventually ruled to dismiss the case on another basis."

She also explained that a TPO under RA 9262 or Anti Violence Against Women and their Children Act gives protection to women against their husband or partner.

"Sabi niya, walang basehan sa petition to assume that there is a relationship between Vhong and Deniece, so as to put it within the ambit of the law. Ang TPO, sa ilalim ng probisyon ng VAWC ay nagbibigay proteksiyon para sa mga babaeng biktima ng pang-aabuso ng kanilang relasyon. Base sa inihaing TPO, ang tanging binanggit na relasyon umano ni Deniece kay Vhong ay ang kaharasan na ginawa ng actor-host. Sabi ng korte, ‘Hindi ito ang relasyong pinag-uusapan dito. Walang relasyon na masasakop ng batas,'" Mallonga said.

Atty. Calleja, however, said they will file a motion for reconsideration for Cornejo's TPO petition.

Meanwhile, the rape case filed by Cornejo against Navarro was dismissed the same day during the preliminary investigation at the DOJ. Hard evidence matches Navarro's statement. The panel of prosecutors believed that no rape happened.

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