Dennis Cornejo, father of model Deniece Cornejo, firmly believes in his daughter’s innocence following her conviction for serious illegal detention for ransom involving comedian Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro. Speaking with Manila Bulletin, he asserted that Navarro had ulterior motives for visiting Deniece in her condo in 2014.
On May 2, the Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 153 found Deniece Cornejo, Cedric Lee, Simeon Palma Raz Jr., and Ferdinand Guerrero guilty beyond reasonable doubt for the serious illegal detention of Navarro. The court sentenced them to reclusion perpetua, which entails imprisonment from 20 years and one day to a maximum of 40 years. Deniece, now 32, is serving her sentence at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong.
Dennis Cornejo expressed his heartbreak over the conviction. “Parang nagsuklob ang langit at lupa because we are expecting 100 percent everything will be dismissed,” he said, affirming his belief in his daughter’s innocence. He further explained that the earlier bail granted by the Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 271 in 2014 indicated a weak case against Deniece and her co-accused. “Once you are bailed out in a case that is supposedly unbailable, the case is getting weak,” he noted.
Dennis criticized Navarro’s actions and maintained that his daughter was wrongfully accused. “He really had this dark desire that was why everything was messed up,” he stated, insisting Navarro’s motives were questionable.
The case dates back to January 22, 2014, when Navarro was allegedly detained and beaten inside Cornejo’s condominium unit in Taguig. Dennis acknowledged the incident but emphasized that no one intended for it to happen. “Yes, he was beaten up. But who wanted that to happen? No one wanted it to happen but that happened,” he remarked.
Despite the conviction, Dennis Cornejo plans to appeal the decision and remains hopeful for a favorable outcome from the Supreme Court. “I’m not losing my faith,” he said.
Deniece Cornejo will be spending her 33rd birthday in prison on June 1. Her father, currently working in Los Angeles, plans to visit her by the end of the year.
Dennis’s message to Deniece was one of encouragement: “Always keep safe because she is in a different atmosphere, different environment. And I know her very well that she is not a bad person.”