Deniece Cornejo insists she's the victim
(UPDATE 2) Hours after actor and TV host Vhong Navarro denied allegations of attempted rape, the 22-year-old student accusing him insisted she’s the victim.
“Kung may biktima at innocente dito walang iba kundi ako,” Deniece Cornejo said in a statement coursed through GMA reporter Kara David’s Twitter account.
On Sunday (January 27), still visibly in pain with eyes swollen shut, Vhong Navarro broke his silence on “Buzz ng Bayan” since the alleged mauling incident.
Vhong: ‘No attempted rape’
Recalling the events that led to the fateful incident, the 37-year-old TV host claimed that Deniece gave mixed signals.
“Pauwi ako nag-text siya. Sabi niya, ‘Bad boy ka.’ Sa akin, ano ang ibig sabihin ng bad boy ka? Dahil ba hindi ko tinuloy na may mangyari? Hindi ko alam. Kaya ang sagot ko po, ‘I’m sorry bawi ako.’”
But Cornejo said she’s the one who will give “real justice.”
“If you want justice, I will give you the real justice,” she was quoted as saying. “In the field of women’s rights. The right will always be right.”
Without directly referring to the comedian-TV host, Deniece said she has high regard for men who respect and fight for women.
“Mataas ang paghanga ko sa mga lalaki na marunong rumespeto at ipagtanggol ang mga kababaihan.”
Cedric: Vhong wanted to rape Deniece
Cedric Lee, the man who, according to Vhong, led a group of men who mauled him, stressed that he's innocent.
"Ang instinct ko, I grabbed him from the back at hinila ko pababa ng kama. Si Deniece ay tumakbo sa sister ko at inilabas na siya sa condo unit. Naiwan dun sa condo, ako at ‘yung lalaki na di ko pa kilala ay si Vhong," Lee told ABS-CBN News.
The businessman didn't deny beating up Vhong, but said the actor fought back when they wanted to bring him to the police.
"Napilitan namin siyang suntukin at naupakan namin siya. Nagkabasag-basag ang mukha niya."
Cyber-bullied
The Philippines’ local Twitter scene was abuzz Sunday during and after Vhong’s taped interview as they were furious and obviously sympathetic of Vhong.
Twitter users changed their calls from #PrayforVhongNavarro to #JusticeForVhongNavarro.
Keywords such as “Denise Millet Cornejo” and “Cedric Lee” also easily became trending topics as fans resorted to name-calling.
Angry netizens filled Deniece’s Instagram account (@RealDeniece) with curse words and threats.
She was immediately linked to GMA-7 Chairman Felipe Gozon after seeing an Instagram photo of her with the network big boss with a caption “lolo.”
This prompted the Kapuso Network to release a statement denying the executive’s relation to the woman.
Cedric Lee, meanwhile, is being linked to Vina Morales, another trending name on Sunday, as he’s said to be the father of the singer’s daughter.
