Are Cedric Lee and Deniece Cornejo planning to leave PH?

After the DOJ charged them for the crimes of "serious illegal detention" and "grave coercion" against actor Vhong Navarro, there were speculations that businessman Cedric Lee and model Deniece Cornejo were allegedly ready to take flight.

Dubai flight cancelled

In a TV Patrol report by ABS-CBN News correspondent Dominic Almelor, it was noted that the Bureau of Immigration (BI) had issued an official statement saying that at 9 a.m. on Friday, April 11, a certain "Cedric Lee" booked a Cebu Pacific Flight 5J7944 bound for Dubai. It was then revealed in the same report that the booking for the Dubai flight had been cancelled at around 4 p.m. that same day. The flight was scheduled to depart at 4:40 p.m. on Saturday, April 12.

Legal troubles

On Thursday, April 10, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has found probable cause to charged Cedric Lee and Deniece Cornejo—as well as Bernice Lee, Simeon Raz, Ferdinand Guerrero, Jose Paolo Calma, and Jed Fernandez— for the crimes of serious illegal detention and grave coercion.

In a 42-page resolution dated April 4, 2014, the DOJ stated that it was clear that on January 22 up to the early hours of January 23 Lee’s group deprived Navarro of his liberty, which is a primary element of the crime of serious illegal detention.

The DOJ said the group also inflicted serious physical injuries on the host-actor and threatened to kill him. The DOJ added that it was evident that the group committed the crime charged for purposes of extorting money or ransom from Navarro in exchange of his liberty.

As for the grave coercion charge, the DOJ said the group clearly forced Navarro to admit that he raped Cornejo even if he did not.

Bail matters

As it happens, serious illegal detention is a non-bailable offense, but the judge who will handle the case will decide first if the evidence against Lee, Cornejo, and the rest of their group is either strong or weak to grant their likely petition for temporary liberty when their trial begins.

This was what prompted Lee and Cornejo's lawyer, Atty. Howard Calleja, to file a motion at the Taguig Regional Trial Court for the determination of probable cause in the serious illegal detention case against his clients.

Included the said motion is the suspension of all proceedings, including the issuance of warrant of arrest against Lee and Cornejo clients. Calleja had said it was "unfair" for Cornejo and Lee to be issued an arrest warrant since offices will be closed on the weekend and on Holy Week.

"Cliffhanger" situation

Calleja has maintained that Lee and Cornejo will face the cases filed against them and that they are willing to surrender to the authorities if an arrest warrant is released.

"Mababait naman `yung kliyente natin. Wala namang problema 'yun. As an officer of the law we are here to make sure that the processes of the law are followed," Calelja declared.

Meanwhile, since arrest warrants haven't been issued yet, the BI admitted that they cannot stop Lee and Cornejo if both decided to leave the country.