Bail for Lee, Cornejo, et al set at P12,000 each

MANILA (3rd UPDATE) - Arrest warrants have been issued for businessman Cedric Lee, model Deniece Cornejo, and 5 others for the bailable crime of grave coercion filed by actor-TV host Vhong Navarro.

Presiding Judge Bernard Pineda Bernal of the Taguig Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) set bail for each of those charged at P12,000.

Aside from Lee and Cornejo, the 5 others charged in connection with the Navarro mauling are:

• Bernice Lee
• Simeon Raz
• Jose Paolo Calma
• Ferdinand Guerrero
• Jed Fernandez.

Although the 7 can post bail, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said they can still be arrested if they insist on leaving the country without the permission of either the Department of Justice or of the trial court.

Should they fail to comply with this requirement, not only will they be barred from travelling abroad, they will also be arrested and charged for another criminal offense, De Lima said.

Early Monday morning, Guerrero attempted to leave the country for Hong Kong but he was stopped by an immigration officer.

Grave coercion is a lesser offense compared to the other case the Department of Justice filed against Lee and company which is serious illegal detention, a non-bailable offense.

The serious illegal detention case is being heard by the Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 271. - report from Ina Reformina, ABS-CBN News