Images courtesy of Fashion PULIS reader
Image courtesy of www.normannorman.com
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Vhong Navarro a 'Monster,' Roxanne Cabanero Claims
.jpg)
Image courtesy of www.abs-cbnnews.com
Source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
Former pageant contestant Roxanne Acosta-Cabañero, who has accused actor-host Vhong Navarro of raping her in 2010, recalled the alleged incident as the "most horrific moment" of her life.
Cabañero formalized her complaint against the ABS-CBN star last Wednesday at the Pasig City Prosecutor's Office, amid the controversy surrounding a January 22 mauling incident wherein the actor sustained serious injuries.
Speaking with ABS-CBN News' Doris Bigornia on Friday, the 24-year-old Cebu resident said the alleged rape happened during her stint in a pageant in Manila.
She said she met Navarro when she and her fellow candidates visited the studio of "It's Showtime," which the actor co-hosts, to promote the competition.
"May babae kasi sa 'Showtime' -- I don't know her name -- bigla lang niyang sinikreto, na puwede bang hingin 'yung number. Hinihingi raw 'yung number [mo] ni Mr. Vhong. Sabi ko, 'Okay.' And then I just gave my number to this girl.
"Nadala lang siguro talaga ako kasi idol na idol ko siya. Siya iyung pinaka-unang artista na nakasama ko, na kinausap ako. Very first... And then 'yon, nung kinausap niya ako... Nag-text siya sa akin. I can still remember the number. Sabi, 'Hi, ito si Vhong. How are you?'"
Cabañero, who was staying at a hotel in Pasig for the duration of the pageant, said Navarro "was texting me, texting me, texting me all throughout until nag-invite na nga siya sa akin lumabas."
"At first, gusto niyang pumasok sa hotel kung sa akin kami nag-stay. And then, sabi ko, 'Hindi puwede, may mga kandidata, eh. Bawal din kasi kami magdala ng bisita dito at may curfew kami sa paglabas.' Sabi niya, 'Sige, I'll pick you up na lang,'" she said.
"So ayun, he picked me up. But during the conversation before pa niya ako i-pick up, tinatanong ko siya sa text, 'Saan tayo pupunta?' Sabi niya, 'Diyan lang sa tabi-tabi.' Sabi ko, 'No, seriously, where?' Sabi niya, 'Let's just talk about it over coffee.'"
According to Cabañero, Navarro changed plan as soon as she got into his car. "Nagtinginan kami, nagtawan kami like 10 seconds. And then 'yun... After no'n, sinabi niya sa akin, 'Let's go somewhere private,'" she said.
"And I was shocked. I'm like, 'What? I thought we were going to have coffee?' Siyempre kinabahan na ako."
Cabañero said she was nervous because it was around 12 midnight. Turning emotional, she recalled the actor supposedly insisting on his plans. Cabañero claimed Navarro drove and parked his car under a tree, where he supposedly sexually assaulted her.
"Medyo madilim na, there's no one. Wala nang masyadong tao... He pulled the car and he started doing what he was doing. He violated me, he threatened me. It was the most horrific moment of my life," she said.
"I trusted him with his image na komedyante siya. It's so unfair kasi I [felt] safe, and when he did that, he just turned into this monster."
She said she was forced into the act for fear that Navarro might have her killed. Cabañero claimed that the actor, who was supposedly accompanied by his bodyguards, threatened that he would leave her to them.
"Sabi niya, pag hindi ako mag-ano, may tao siya sa labas at sila na bahala pag umayaw ako... Pag umayaw ako, papatayin niya ako," she said.
Asked if there were any witnesses that she and Navarro spent time together on that night, Cabañero said a fellow pageant candidate saw her alight from the actor's car after the alleged rape.
She declined to name the witness but said the fellow pageant candidate positively identified Navarro as her companion.
Even then, Cabañero said she couldn't tell her fellow candidate about her alleged experience with Navarro, citing her fear over the actor's supposed threats.
Cabañero recalled only being able to tell her sister, who was 16 at the time, and a friend, whom she trusted would not judge her.
"'Yung kapatid ko, I told her... I didn't tell her the whole story, I just told her like, 'Yeah, I knew Vhong and he did something to me.' We cried that day. And then she just told me, 'Do you want some ice cream?' 'Okay.'
"But I have a friend, pinagsabihan ko ng buong detalye. Siya lang ang nakakaalam sa lahat. Sabi niya, 'Ipasa-Diyos mo nalang 'yan.' I told her because feeling ko parang hindi ko na kinakaya inside and if sasabihin ko sa mga kaibigan kong babae, they're just going to blame me. And so I told this person because I know she will not judge me," she said.
Staying 'friendly'
According to Cabañero, Navarro continued to contact her via text message after the alleged rape in 2010. She admitted responding to him, and supposedly pretending to be "friendly," saying she feared he might get angry if she ignored him.
"[I got a text from him] on that night (of the alleged rape). He seemed friendly -- from being a comedian, monster, and friendly. I stayed friends with him kasi takot ako. I just put that face na, 'Okay, hindi ako magsasalita,' kasi sabi niya, pag nagsalita ako, talo ako. Swerte pa nga raw at k***** pa niya ako. Sikat na ako,'" she said.
"Takot ako sa kanya. And as much as possible, ayokong lumapit sa kanya, kasi I know if lalapit ulit ako sa kanya... We don't know kung anong gagawin na naman niya sa akin. So I just stayed friendly, but away from him."
The last message she got from Navarro, Cabañero claimed, was in 2013. She said the actor asked him if she had any plans for the night. Cabañero added that the actor said he could visit her at her condominium unit.
She said she declined meeting Navarro and told him that she was already in a relationship. Cabañero said she erased Navarro's text messages, out of concern that her boyfriend might find out that the actor was communicating with her.
Over the years since the alleged rape in 2010, Cabañero said she has been avoiding watching "It's Showtime" or any TV show or film that starred Navarro, in the hope of forgetting about the alleged incident.
Inspired by Deniece
When the January 22 incident involving Navarro made headlines last month, Cabañero recalled being shocked. "And then when I heard about Deniece's situation, na-inspire ako sa kanya," she said.
Cabenero was referring to model Deniece Cornejo, who filed a rape complaint against Navarro last January 29.
In her affidavit, Cornejo alleged that she was "rescued" by businessman Cedric Lee's group from being sexually assaulted by the actor, which supposedly led to the mauling.
Navarro denied this, saying he was set up by Cornejo for an extortion attempt allegedly led by Lee. The actor said he was blindfolded, tied up, and attacked by "six to seven men" inside Cornejo's condominium unit in Taguig.
The actor has since filed six criminal charges against Cornejo and Lee's group: serious physical injuries, grave threat, grave coercion, unlawful arrest, blackmail, and serious illegal detention, which is a non-bailable offense.
"Noong nalaman ko 'yung storya [tungkol kay Deniece], everything, lahat ng nangyari nag-flash back sa akin... Isang buong araw, I was crying," Cabañero said on Friday.
"So after three days, I told [my boyfriend]. Naghanap na kami ng tao na puwede na malapitan. And it so happened that a good friend of mine knows Mr. [Virgilio] Batalla," she said, referring to her legal counsel in her rape complaint.
No ties with Cedric
Cabenero denied speculation that she has ties with Lee, who earlier claimed he knows several other women, aside from Cornejo, who were supposedly willing to come forward and say that Navarro also made sexual advances on them.
Navarro's legal counsel, Atty. Alma Mallonga, earlier said their camp expected this new rape complaint, citing Lee's statement. Mallonga also called Cabenero's filing a "distraction" from the ongoing investigation into the mauling incident.
"Hindi ko sila kilala," Cabañero said. "And as much as possible, ayokong maapektuhan ang kaso ko dahil dito. Ayokong ma-link sa kanila. 'Yung kaso ko, kaso ko. Sa kanila, sa kanila."
Asked if she can categorically deny being paid by Lee, Cabañero added, "Hindi ko nga siya kilala. Paano niya ako babayaran? And if he ever comes up to him, I'll say, 'Please, huwag mo muna ako lapitan. Let me finish this one and then you can talk to me if you want to talk to me.'"
Cabañero was also quick with an answer when asked to react to comments that she only wants publicity, supposedly in to help launch a showbiz career.
"Wala kasi akong plano mag-artista o maging politician or whatever," said Cabañero, who is currently a freelance research analyst. "This is not about being famous. I'm seeking justice, that's what I want."
"Magduda sila. Basta ako, wala akong pakialam sa kanila, kay Cedric o Deniece. Basta sa akin, sa akin. I'm here for one thing -- justice. And this is my way to heal, kasi hindi ko na talaga kaya. I cannot. I need to move one with my life. This is like a ghost na sunod nang sunod sa akin, haunting me, every night."
While she acknowledged that the timing of the filing of her rape complaint might raise suspicions, Cabañero said she has resolved to face the case head-on so she can move on with her life.
"I've talked to my parents, my boyfriend kung desidido na ba talaga ako. This is going to be really, really tough -- a bloody war. And I said, 'Let's do it.' That's why I'm here.
"Kung hindi ako lumabas, kailan pa? I cannot keep this forever. I want to face it. I've been living in fear for four years at takot na ako matakot. Ayoko na maging sheep, tupa na palagi nalang susunud-sunod at natatakot," she said.
Asked for her message to Navarro, Cabañero said, "Wala akong message. I'll just see him in court. Gusto ko siyang makita sa korte. At doon na siya mag-message. Not trying to be sarcastic, but if he wants to say something, sabihin niya na lang doon."
Cedric Lee: Deniece Cornejo 'Delicious Enough to be Raped'
Image courtesy of www.abs-cbnnews.com
Source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
"Wala talaga, kaibigan ko lang iyun... parang nakipag-harutan lang ako sa kanya," he said. "Parang binibiro ko siya na 'ang sarap mo kasing rape-in.'"
This was the statement that Lee gave to media on Friday when asked why he kissed Cornejo inside the elevator just after the mauling of actor and TV host Vhong Navarro.
Lee and Cornejo faced the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday for its second preliminary investigation into the criminal charges filed against them by Navarro.
Also in attendance at the hearing were Zimmer Raz and Bernice Lee, two others tagged in the mauling of Navarro last January 22. Their camp's legal counsel, Atty. Howard Calleja, was also at the DOJ.
Navarro was represented by his lawyer, Atty. Alma Mallonga.
Lee's camp earlier dismissed the kissing incident, saying the CCTV footage showing Lee amorously kissing Cornejo was a non-issue and won't affect the case.
Calleja appealed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) not to allow media coverage in the second preliminary investigation (PI) hearing, saying his clients were already feeling harassed due to the members of the press who were continuously taking pictures of them during the proceedings.
"To be honest, we understand each other's works but...if we are going to be in front of this panel with all these cameras in front of us, technically it's close to harassment, not even respecting the rights of the respondents or the accused," he said.
The DOJ denied Calleja's request.
Navarro sued Lee's group for serious physical injuries, grave threat, grave coercion, unlawful arrest, blackmail, and serious illegal detention, which is a non-bailable offense.
Cornejo, meanwhile, filed a rape complaint against Navarro.
FB Scoop: Affidavit of Alleged Rape Victim of Vhong Navarro
Images courtesy of Facebook: Tony Calvento
.JPG)
Insta Scoop: Zsa Zsa Padilla Affected on Karylle Tatlonghari - Vice Ganda Issue
Image courtesy of Instagram: zsazsapadilla
Insta Scoop: Is It All's Well That Ends Well Between Karylle Tatlonghari and Vice Ganda?
Image courtesy of Instagram: anakarylle
Insta Scoop: Ces Drilon and Ricky Carandang at the Art Fair
Like or Dislike: Cast of 'Diary ng Panget' the Movie
Images courtesy of Instagram: vivaartistsagency
Fairest of Them All: Jessica Soho, Ruffa Gutierrez and Gloria Diaz
Image courtesy of Instagram: iloveruffag
Who Wore It Better: Carmina Villaroel vs Judy Ann santos
Image courtesy of Instagram: apartment8clothing
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Best of Friends No More
Image courtesy of www.waitingwithjoy.com
People know that FG, NI, and YF were very close, and that YF has benefitted much from the connections of FG and NI. YF and FG are even neighbors. Others view the relationship of YF and FG as that of a mentor and an understudy, although YF has already built his name in the fashion circles. While the name of FG is highly acclaimed here and abroad, YF is popular among the stars of the networks. However, some of his designs have been observed to be similar with that of international designers. Nonetheless, the stylish still avail of the services of YF.
So, what could have severed their relationship? Friendships of designers often break because of money problems, love choices, plagiarism of designs, and mistrust. In the case of YF and FG, their friendship was wrecked by the uncouth behavior of YF towards FG. Under the influence of alcohol, YF went from his balcony to the balcony of the home of FG to sexually harass someone close to the heart of FG. Allegedly, YF has been doing this act several times in other places as well, and several of his victims have come out in the open when this incident came out.
To prevent instances of becoming victims of the crazy antics of YF, FG and NI dropped him personally and professionally. To show he was very serious, FG installed barbed wires around his house, especially around the balcony area. This incident has embarrassingly revealed part of the personality of YF, and his behavior might soon lead to more detrimental effects unless he seriously considers a change in lifestyle. YF must realize that combining drugs and alcohol with his fame and fortune can destroy his reputation and his talent. Many designers as well as celebrities have lost everything to drugs and alcohol. Will YF waste his chance and continue a path towards self-destruction?
“The truly scary thing about undiscovered lies is that they have a greater capacity to diminish us than exposed ones.” ― Cheryl Hughes
Follow @FashionPulis on Twitter for the latest update. Please continue to send your juicy stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com. Thank you very much for loving Fashion PULIS!
Disclaimer: The comments of the readers do not reflect the views and opinions of Fashion PULIS.
Hottest of Them All: Daniel Padilla, Enrique Gil and Robi Domingo
Image courtesy of Instagram: asapofficial
Fairest of Them All: Angeline Quinto, Klarisse de Guzman and Morissette Amon
Image courtesy of Instagram: bangpineda
Who Wore It Better: Carla Abellana vs Venus Raj in Eric Delos Santos
Image courtesy of Instagram: ericdelosantos
.png)
Friday, February 21, 2014
“Daddy” Gets Even
Image courtesy of www.daisymoondesigns.com.uk
A successful relationship between the talent and the manager can go sour if one party goes astray. The talent could realize he/she is being stifled by the demands of the manager or the network, and thus, seek freedom. Meanwhile, a younger or yummier newbie could be the new apple of the eye of the manager or insider, and thus, the former talent could be left out in the cold.
For instance, Generous Manager (GM) has an eye for the talent who can bring in attention and the sponsors for the network. Having been in the business for a time and having remained loyal to his network, GM has the reputation of building the careers of several of the network’s talents. Once a talent in under the wing of GM, that talent is assured of the best projects, a fat paycheck, and glory from adoring fans. Nonetheless, there is always payback, and that goes beyond mere cuts from the paycheck.
GM has been enamored with two young talents of his network. YT1 and YT2 are both good dancers, have athletic physiques, refreshing faces, and shrieking female fans. YT1 and YT2 always look good on screen and the fans know that both have more to give in terms of their acting talents. After all, both have been paired with the female talents of their network successfully. On top of that, YT1 and YT2 are well loved in and out of showbusiness, and are professional in work. So fond was GM of these two, that both have been part of the acclaimed projects of their network. Of course, GM had his separate personal encounters with YT1 and YT2.
Unknown to GM, something was happening with YT1 and YT2 while both were involved in a project for the network. Their series ran shorter than the usual length, which left followers in the dark. While YT1 and YT2 had benefitted from the generous actions of GM, they were also careful in hiding their alleged truth from GM. Allegedly, YT1 and YT2 did something that did not include GM in the picture. Some tongues are wagging that the real reason why the project was cut was that GM realized YT1 and YT2 were fooling around behind his back. Will YT1 and YT2 ever work in a project together? Your guess will be as good as ours.
Not everyone will appreciate what you do to them…You have to figure out who’s worth your kindness and who’s just taking advantage. – Author Unknown
Follow @FashionPulis on Twitter for the latest update. Please continue to send your juicy stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com. Thank you very much for loving Fashion PULIS!
Disclaimer: The comments of the readers do not reflect the views and opinions of Fashion PULIS.
John Lloyd Cruz Rushed to Hospital After Mt. Pinatubo Accident
Image courtesy of www.en.wikipedia.org
Source: www.entertainment.inquirer.net
“John Lloyd Cruz had a minor bike accident during a shoot and he has undergone immediate medical treatment. He is fine and in good condition. The results have come out clear and Cruz was eventually discharged,” Tess Gubi of Star Magic said in a statement.
Cruz was brought to a nearby hospital where he was made to undergo tests, such as X-ray and CT scan. The results have come out clear and Cruz was eventually discharged.
Gubi denied earlier reports that Cruz’s girlfriend Angelica Panganiban, although present in the shooting, was also involved in the accident.
“Angelica was present in the shoot but was not part of the scene and not involved in the accident,” she said.
As of posting time, the actor was on his way to Manila.
Calling Sen. Tito Sotto an Idiot is No Cybercrime
Image courtesy of www.philnews.ph
Source: www.opinion.inquirer.net
It is a disgraceful indictment that we have forgotten that libel is but an exception to the fundamental rule that is free speech. We have likewise forgotten that the most basic reason for free speech is to voice honest criticism of officials, even in ways vulgar, unkind, or even untrue. In the classic words of Dean and Justice George Malcolm: “Complete liberty to comment on the conduct of public men is a scalpel in the case of free speech. The sharp incision of its probe relieves the abscesses of officialdom. Men in public life may suffer under a hostile and an unjust accusation; the wound can be assuaged with the balm of a clear conscience. A public officer must not be too thin-skinned with reference to comment upon his official acts.”
This revered formulation means that calling Sotto an idiot for his damnable insertion cannot be libel absent “actual malice,” which sincere disagreement with a law cannot be. This is a hallowed constitutional principle that not even a thousand Cybercrime Acts can erode.
Unfortunately, there is a fair legal reason for letting Sotto’s insertion stand. The Cybercrime Act merely refers to the circa 1930 Revised Penal Code’s definition of libel. Prof. Harry Roque made an admirable argument that criminalizing libel violates international standards that emerged after 1930. However, as Justice Marvic Leonen countered during the arguments, the justices may fairly reject that these standards bind us. What punishment to impose on libel is thus not a legal issue. Senators Sonny Angara and Chiz Escudero are right to push for a law decriminalizing libel in response to the decision.
Yes, online libel has been a crime since 1930. A criminal libel case involving teenage online rants such as “I super frikin wanted to kill her and make her the frikin next assuming queen!” was filed before the Cybercrime Act and reached our Court of Appeals in 2012 (“DOJ punishes Facebook felonies,” Opinion, 2/8/2013). The arrest of antimining activist Esperlita “Perling” Garcia over a Facebook post in 2012 was also under the real-world Penal Code.
But when Sotto crudely imported the 1930 law into the Cybercrime Act, he also imported longstanding libel protections. The most important is the “public figure” doctrine, where fair discussion of a public figure is not libel again absent actual malice. A public figure is someone the public will naturally discuss because of his celebrity, his thrusting himself into the limelight or his becoming intertwined “in an issue of public interest.” Last year, lawyer Lorna Kapunan filed a libel case against Internet reporter Natashya Gutierrez for writing about Jeane Napoles’ P80-million Los Angeles condo, allegedly because of envy from high school. Gutierrez countered that she wrote this after the Napoleses became public figures following the Inquirer’s pork barrel exposé, and Kapunan failed to argue actual malice. Also in 2013, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio emphasized public figure doctrine in the Fortun decision that refused to punish Inquirer.net and other websites that reported a confidential disbarment case against Ampatuan lawyer Sigfrid Fortun. Moreover, the cybercrime decision itself clarified that online libel will generally be against the original author only and not those who react. This protects likes, shares and retweets (which are vague in terms of the intent required to establish libel anyway) and generally how messages can casually be resent on the Internet.
The media bear some blame for how the issues were miscommunicated, down to how many still think online libel was not a crime before the Cybercrime Act. This focus on libel meant the law’s more technical, more insidious provisions escaped public attention. Outraged citizens must appreciate how the decision prohibits without a court warrant (1) collection of “traffic data,” or data regarding Internet and phone usage that reveals the intimate patterns of one’s life, and (2) taking down websites allegedly involved in cybercrimes. The “double jeopardy” provision imposing higher penalties on cybercrimes compared to their real-world counterparts was upheld except in relation to libel and child pornography. Note that Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, who is now vocally protesting the decision, was assigned to attack this provision at the Supreme Court but came unprepared, giving answers such as “I’m not very good at the Internet” and “I’m not familiar with the technology.”
Netizens must critically understand the cybercrime decision before joining the angry bandwagon. That said, I invite the outraged to call Sotto an idiot in a truly #NonLibelousTweet. Know that doing so is no cybercrime, but part of a storied tradition traced to our parents who stood against tanks at Edsa in 1986 and to the sacrifice of all who died wearing our flag and uniform in our great nation’s history.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
LinkWithin
