Vhong Navarro
Navarro in 2011
Born	Ferdinand Hipolito Navarro (1977-01-04)January 4, 1977 (age 48)[1] Makati, Philippines[1]
Occupations	Comedian actor dancer recording artist television host
Years active	1992–present
Agent	ABS-CBN
Spouses	Bianca Lapus ​ ​ (m. 1998; ann. 2008)​ Tanya Bautista ​ (m. 2019)​
Children	2

Ferdinand Hipolito "Vhong" Navarro (born January 4, 1977),^[1] is a Filipino comedian, actor, dancer, recording artist and television host. He is known for his iconic comedic roles inAgent X44,Mr. Suave, andSpider-Man (2002)parody filmGagamboy. He is a regular host onABS-CBN's noontime variety showIt's Showtime. He was also part of the dance group Streetboys alongside fellow hostJhong Hilario.

Navarro was married to Lalaine Bianca Lapus but the marriage was annulled in 2008. He has two sons, Isaiah and Frederick. In 2019, Navarro and Tanya Winona Bautista were married inKyoto, Japan.^[2]

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 inBonifacio Global City,Taguig.^[3] 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.^[4] 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 onIt's Showtime and other television projects while he continues to recover.^[5]

Navarro was accused of attempted rape, which he denied. In an interview with TV hostBoy Abunda onBuzz ng Bayan, Navarro said he just arrived at the model's condo unit and then suddenly there were armed men that beat him up.^[6][7] 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 theCCTV elevator footage,^[8][9] in which Cornejo was seen exiting the building only a minute after Navarro's arrival.^[10] Navarro maintained that it was physically impossible for rape or attempted rape to have occurred in such a short time.^[10]

On February 19, 2014, another rape case was filed against Navarro, by a woman named Roxanne Cabañero, alleging the rape took place in 2010.^[11] Cabañero's case was dismissed in October 2014 due to insufficient evidence, with a statement from theDepartment of Justice saying Cabanero's story was "contradictory, suspicious, and of doubtful nature."^[12]

On March 8, 2014, Navarro returned toIt's Showtime.^[13]

On April 10, 2014,DOJ dismissed the rape complaint filed by Deniece Cornejo against Navarro.^[14] A week later, DOJ issued a warrant of arrest against Cornejo and Lee. On April 26, Lee and his accomplice were captured and arrested inOras, Eastern Samar.^[15] On May 5, Cornejo surrendered toCamp Crame.

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

On January 25, 2015, businessman Ferdinand Guerrero was arrested by agents of theNational Bureau of Investigation (NBI) inside the penthouse of Ritz condominium in Makati as one of the suspects.^[17]

On July 21, 2022, theCourt of Appeals' 14 Division reversed the DOJ's decision to dismiss Cornejo's complaint.^[18][19]

On September 19, 2022, the Taguig Court issued an arrest warrant against Navarro 8 years after the incident happened.^[20] He surrendered to the NBI on the same day.^[21]

On September 19, 2022, Navarro surrendered to theNational Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after trial courts inTaguig 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.^[20][21]

On November 17, 2022, the NBI received orders from the Taguig city court to transfer Navarro to aBureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facility inCamp Bagong Diwa while pending the resolution of his petition for bail.^[22]

On December 6, 2022, the court allowed Navarro to post₱1 million (roughlyUS$18,000) bail.^[23]

On January 12, 2023, the court denied Cornejo's appeal to cancel Navarro's bail.^[24][25] In March 2023, the PhilippineSupreme Court dismissed the charges due to lack ofprobable cause as well as noted what they considered to be material inconsistencies in complainant Deniece Cornejo's complaint-affidavits concerning one of theelements of the crime charged in the indictment.^[26]

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-pagejudgmentsentenced Cedric Lee, Denice Cornejo, Ferdinand Guerrero, and Simeon Palma Raz toreclusión perpetua, in the 2014 case forserious illegal detention (Article 267,Revised Penal Code),extortion and assault of Navarro. The accused were ordered to payjointly and severally₱100,000 civilindemnity,₱100,000 moraldamages and₱100,000punitive damages.^[27] The court further canceled thebail bond of the accused. Raz and Cornejo, who were present at thepromulgation of the decision, and were committed by the court.^[28]

Cedric Lee surrendered with theNational Bureau of Investigation inMandaluyong and later transferred toQuezon City, Director Menardo de Lemos confirmed. Lee will be held in aprison outside of theBilibid Prison, saidGregorio Catapang Jr.. Deniece Millinete Cornejo andmixed martial arts fighter Simeon Palma Raz will be under the NBP Reception and Diagnostic Center procedures, such as a 5-daysQuarantine Cell stay and 55-daymedical diagnosis. Cornejo will finally be held at theMandaluyong Correctional Institution for Women.^[29][30] On May 16, 2024, Ferdinand Guerrero surrendered to the NBI and was detained at the Bureau of Corrections' Quarantine Cell.^[31]

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

• Best Novelty Hits (2008)

• "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 movieAgent X44)
• "Don Romantiko" (from the movieD' Anothers)
• "Huwag Kang Makulit" (from the TV seriesKulilits)
• "Magandang Umaga"
• "Minahal Kita" (featuringGloc-9)
• "Pata-Pata-Pon" (featuring Streetboys)
• "Pamela" (from the movieOtso-Otso, Pamela-Mela Wan)
• "Supah Papalicious Man" (from the movieSupah Papahlicious)
• "Totoy Bibbo"
• "Da Vhong Song" ('from the movieDa Possessed)

• Media related toVhong Navarro at Wikimedia Commons
• Vhong Navarro atIMDb

• 1977 births
• Living people
• Male actors from Makati
• People from Sampaloc, Manila
• Filipino male comedians
• Filipino male dancers
• Filipino male film actors
• Filipino male television actors
• Filipino television variety show hosts
• Kapampangan people
• Star Magic
• ABS-CBN people
• 20th-century Filipino male actors
• 21st-century Filipino male actors
• 21st-century Filipino male singers
• Singers from Makati
• Filipino sketch comedians
• Comedians from Makati

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