Deniece Cornejo emerges after a court hearing of her rape case against TV personality Vhong Navarro at the Taguig Regional Trial Court in Taguig City on November 7, 2022. Navarro attended the hearing through video conferencing. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said Monday it was verifying the court records of Cedric Lee and Deniece Cornejo before carrying out their release, despite an order from the Court of Appeals directing that they be freed.
BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said the bureau was seeking a copy of the entry of judgment from the Court of Appeals following its September 25 order directing the immediate release of Lee and Cornejo.
The bureau is also requesting a certificate of no pending case from the Taguig Regional Trial Court.
“The document will form part of the records and documentation required to determine the PDLs’ release status,” BuCor said in a statement.
Cedric Lee, Deniece Cornejo guilty of grave coercion for mauling Vhong Navarro
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The move comes after a review of the records showed that Lee and Cornejo were also serving sentences in another grave coercion case before the Taguig RTC Branch 266.
The Court of Appeals had modified their conviction in the case filed by actor Vhong Navarro, reducing the offense from serious illegal detention for ransom to grave coercion.
The appellate court sentenced them to six months as minimum to three years, six months and 21 days as maximum.
But BuCor said the sentences in the two cases are to be served successively, giving Lee and Cornejo a combined sentence of four years and 21 days as minimum to seven years and 21 days as maximum.
“The Bureau is reviewing the records and sentence computations to ensure that any release is carried out in accordance with the appellate court’s order and applicable rules on sentence administration,” the statement read.
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Lee has been in BuCor custody since May 3, 2024, while Cornejo was received a day earlier.
Cornejo, Raz already imprisoned in Muntinlupa, Mandaluyong: BuCor
As of September 26, Lee had 460 days of Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA), bringing his credited time served to three years, 10 months and 29 days.
Cornejo had 440 days of GCTA and 75 days of Time Allowance for Study, Teaching and Mentoring (TASTM), giving her three years, nine months and 24 days of credited time served.
BuCor's current computation places Lee's minimum sentence date on February 18, 2027, and Cornejo's on December 23, 2026.
“The Bureau must obtain and verify the necessary court documents, including the Entry of Judgment and Certificate of No Pending Case, before finalizing the release process.”
FROM THE ARCHIVES: