Vhong Navarro

Film career

Navarro became a star in the film Mr. Suave, a parody of the Parokya ni Edgar song of the same name. Navarro started to gain recognition for his acting skills when he appeared in the film No Other Woman in 2011. He has since then starred in a number of films such as The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin (2014), Extra Service (2017), and Haunted Forest (2017). He has also appeared in several television shows like It's Showtime (2009–present), Wansapanataym (2010–2018), Home Sweetie Home (2014–2017), and Banana Split (2008–2010).^[3]

Navarro has received several awards throughout his career including the Gawad Urian Award for Best Actor in 2014 for his role in the film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin. He was also named Best Male TV Host by the PMPC Star Awards for Television in 2015.^[3]

Music career

Navarro started his music career in 2002 when he released his first self-titled album under Viva Records. He followed up with two more albums in 2003 and 2004 titled ""Ready Ka Na Ba?"" and ""Pinoy Ako"". Both albums were well received by Filipino audiences. Aside from his solo albums, he has also collaborated with other artists such as Anne Curtis, Vice Ganda, Billy Crawford, and Yassi Pressman.^[3]

Family

Navarro was previously married to Lalaine Bianca Lapus; their marriage was annulled in 2008. They have two sons, Isaiah and Frederick. Despite their separation, Navarro maintains an amicable relationship with Lapus. In 2022, the family attended the graduation of their son Isaiah from the University of Santo Tomas (UST), where he earned a degree from the Faculty of Arts and Letters.^[4] Navarro's firstborn son Frederick, is also a graduate of UST in Information Technology now working as an IT specialist.^[5] In 2019, Navarro and Tanya Winona Bautista were married in Kyoto, Japan.^[6]

Assault incident/Deniece Cornejo Case

On January 22, 2014, Navarro was attacked and severely beaten by a group of men inside his female friend Deniece Cornejo's condominium unit at Forbeswood Heights in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.^[7] His manager, Chito S. Roño, said Navarro was invited by Cornejo to visit her condominium unit, where he was tied up and blindfolded by several men, threatened and then beaten up.^[8] The perpetrator was identified as Cedric Lee, who was also accompanied by several other men during the time of the incident. Following this, it was stated that Navarro would temporarily not be appearing on It's Showtime and other television projects while he continues to recover.^[9]

Navarro was accused of attempted rape, which he denied. In an interview with TV host Boy Abunda on Buzz ng Bayan, Navarro said he just arrived at the model's condo unit and then suddenly there were armed men that beat him up.^[10][11] On January 29, 2014, one week after the incident, Cornejo filed a rape case against Navarro, but the National Bureau of Investigation said it was unlikely that there was an attempted rape on Cornejo, based on the CCTV elevator footage,^[12][13] in which Cornejo was seen exiting the building only a minute after Navarro's arrival.^[14] Navarro maintained that it was physically impossible for rape or attempted rape to have occurred in such a short time.^[14]

On February 19, 2014, another rape case was filed against Navarro, by a woman named Roxanne Cabañero, alleging the rape took place in 2010.^[15] Cabañero's case was dismissed in October 2014 due to insufficient evidence, with a statement from the Department of Justice saying Cabanero's story was "contradictory, suspicious, and of doubtful nature."^[16]

On March 8, 2014, Navarro returned to It's Showtime.^[17]

On April 10, 2014, DOJ dismissed the rape complaint filed by Deniece Cornejo against Navarro.^[18] A week later, DOJ issued a warrant of arrest against Cornejo and Lee. On April 26, Lee and his accomplice were captured and arrested in Oras, Eastern Samar.^[19] On May 5, Cornejo surrendered to Camp Crame.

On September 16, 2014, the Taguig court set a ₱500,000 bail for Lee, Raz and Cornejo.^[20]

On January 25, 2015, businessman Ferdinand Guerrero was arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) inside the penthouse of Ritz condominium in Makati as one of the suspects.^[21]

On July 21, 2022, the Court of Appeals' 14 Division reversed the DOJ's decision to dismiss Cornejo's complaint.^[22][23]

On September 19, 2022, the Taguig Court issued an arrest warrant against Navarro 8 years after the incident happened.^[24] He surrendered to the NBI on the same day.^[25]

On September 19, 2022, Navarro surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after trial courts in Taguig issued him separate warrants for rape and "acts of lasciviousness" committed against Deniece Cornejo in 2014. Prosecutors said that the rape and molestations occurred at the hotel where Navarro was also falsely imprisoned and beaten by Cedric Lee and his accomplices as a result; the extent of his injuries made headlines at the time, and his assailants were eventually convicted. Navarro has maintained he did not rape Cornejo, claiming the pair did not engage in any sexual activity; and that Cornejo, Lee and his companions were seeking to extort him for financial gain.^[24][25]

On November 17, 2022, the NBI received orders from the Taguig city court to transfer Navarro to a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facility in Camp Bagong Diwa while pending the resolution of his petition for bail.^[26]

On December 6, 2022, the court allowed Navarro to post ₱1 million (roughly US$18,000) bail.^[27]

On January 12, 2023, the court denied Cornejo's appeal to cancel Navarro's bail.^[28][29] In March 2023, the Philippine Supreme Court dismissed the charges due to lack of probable cause as well as noted what they considered to be material inconsistencies in complainant Deniece Cornejo's complaint-affidavits concerning one of the elements of the crime charged in the indictment.^[30]

Cornejo (May 2, 2024)

Lee (May 4, 2024)

Mugshots of Deniece Cornejo and Cedric Lee following their conviction

On May 2, 2024, the Taguig City Regional Trial Court, Branch 153, Presiding Judge Mariam G. Bien, in a 94-page judgment sentenced Cedric Lee, Denice Cornejo, Ferdinand Guerrero, and Simeon Palma Raz to reclusión perpetua, in the 2014 case for serious illegal detention (Article 267, Revised Penal Code), extortion and assault of Navarro. The accused were ordered to pay jointly and severally ₱100,000 civil indemnity, ₱100,000 moral damages and ₱100,000 punitive damages.^[31] The court further canceled the bail bond of the accused. Raz and Cornejo, who were present at the promulgation of the decision, and were committed by the court.^[32]

Cedric Lee surrendered with the National Bureau of Investigation in Mandaluyong and later transferred to Quezon City, Director Menardo de Lemos confirmed. Lee will be held in a prison outside of the Bilibid Prison, said Gregorio Catapang Jr. Deniece Millinete Cornejo and mixed martial arts fighter Simeon Palma Raz will be under the NBP Reception and Diagnostic Center procedures, such as a 5-days Quarantine Cell stay and 55-day medical diagnosis. Cornejo will finally be held at the Mandaluyong Correctional Institution for Women.^[33][34] On May 16, 2024, Ferdinand Guerrero surrendered to the NBI and was detained at the Bureau of Corrections' Quarantine Cell.^[35]

Studio albums

• Totoy Bibbo (2004)
• Don Romantiko (2005)
• Chickboy (2007)
• Let's Dance (2008)

Compilation albums

• Best Novelty Hits (2008)

Songs/music videos

• "Hari ng Dance Floor" (It's Showtime the Album)
• "Mr. Papabol" (I Star 15 album)
• "Ayos Na Ang Buto-Buto"
• "Cha Cha Cha"
• "Chickboy" (from the film Agent X44)
• "Don Romantiko" (from the film D' Anothers)
• "Huwag Kang Makulit" (from the TV series Kulilits)
• "Magandang Umaga"
• "Minahal Kita" (featuring Gloc-9)
• "Pata-Pata-Pon" (featuring Streetboys)
• "Pamela" (from the film Otso-Otso, Pamela-Mela Wan)
• "Supah Papalicious Man" (from the film Supah Papahlicious)
• "Totoy Bibbo"
• "Da Vhong Song" (from the film Da Possessed)

Television

Film

Music Videos