Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro (Courtesy of NBI-PIO)
MANILA – Embattled actor and television host Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro has been transferred to the detention center of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Manila after a Taguig court ordered his arrest for rape.
A warrant for Navarro’s arrest was issued Monday by Taguig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 69 presiding judge Loralie Datahan.
The rape charge is non-bailable, the magistrate said in her order.
Model Deniece Cornejo sued Navarro for acts of lasciviousness and rape, which allegedly happened separately in January 2014.
“He is at the NBI Manila detention center. He was transferred there this morning,” NBI Information Division chief Nick Suarez told reporters on Tuesday.
Navarro, 45, also underwent medical examination and Covid-19 testing on Monday night.
His counsel Alma Mallonga, said they will be filing pleadings before the Court of Appeals and the Taguig RTC.
“We are mystified,” Mallonga said in an interview late Monday. “He is entitled to bail at the very least.”
Taguig Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 116 Judge Angela Francesca Din earlier found probable cause on the indictment for acts of lasciviousness and set a bail of PHP36,000.
Navarro surrendered to the NBI for the bailable case but was surprised with another arrest warrant for rape.
The Court of Appeals ordered the filing of the rape and acts of lasciviousness cases after Cornejo's complaints were dismissed by the Taguig City prosecutor’s office and the Department of Justice. (PNA)
