A tangled web, indeed

“Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive”. I can’t recall the author of the line, in fact, it could be an anonymous one quoted long ago. But it is still very relevant to the things happening nowadays, as for instance, the very interesting and mystifying case of the TV personality, Vhong Navarro, who got beaten up very thoroughly, and was initially made to appear the villain of the piece.

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Despite the fact that Navarro was shown on TV, looking very pitiful with both eyes blackened, his face swollen and his nose out of joint, some people actually believed that he deserved what happened for supposedly attempting to rape a pretty young girl in her own condominium unit in the high end area in Taguig. Reports from the police blotter supposedly said Navarro was caught by this young businessman in the act of raping the poor little girl, so he deserved to be beaten up – by several husky men, as we later heard.

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All the cards seemed stacked against Navarro, especially when the young businessman, a certain Cedric Lee, supposedly the rescuer of damsels in distress, so righteously told investigators how he happened to hear the cries for help of the girl, so that he burst into her condo (that was open?) to save her and punish the culprit with the aid of several others. Then the girl also faced investigators, so composed and glib, as she told of how she trusted and admired her would-be rapist. ‘Twas a shocking story, indeed. So different from the version of the mauled person.

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But, after the thorough investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation, and with the aid of the now very indispensable security aid, the close circuit TV camera, a very different version from that of the alleged rape victim and her saviors, has started to come out. The footages, showing the movements of those involved, and specifying the times they were taken, are revealing that the girl, Deniece Cornejo, had gone out of the room a minute or two after Navarro entered, and later came back with the ones who “rescued” her!

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For sure there will be more twists and turns, as those involved are obviously moneyed and influential people who can pay any amount for their defense. But, Oh, the revelations that were unearthed during the NBI probe! Seems the girls had moved into the condo only a few days ago before the incident, and the businessman was a very successful one in various businesses and industries, where his partners were several generals, among whom, as revealed in the news yesterday, included the ones involved in the notorious euro scam, for which they were stopped by airport cops in Moscow, Russia! The company he keeps! No wonder they even chose a far away police station, despite the fact that the incident happened in Taguig.

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The latest is that both Lee and Cornejo have been charged for several grievous crimes like physical injuries, grave threats, grave coercion, unlawful arrest, and serious illegal detention, which is a non-bailable crime. Time now to watch how Cedric Lee will utilize his connections in the police and military to get out of this. And, apparently, the NBI has been using the proverbial fine-toothed comb in their investigation. They have even discovered that Cedric and Deniece have booked themselves on flights to Singapore next month. All we can say at this point in the story is “Abangan!”

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Back in the news again is the ex-chief justice of the Supreme Court who has the distinction of being the first in the country to be impeached. This time, it is the SandiganBayan that has charged him and his spouse for unexplained wealth. Well, wasn’t that the focus of the case against him that was zeroed in by his tormentors in the Senate? Now he is crying persecution, and he will be crying more when the intractable head of the Bureau of Internal Revenue shows her hand.

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There are now moves to return the death penalty for the reason that it is needed to discourage crimes, especially those perpetrated by guns-for-hire and riding-in-tandem killers. That penalty had been stricken out from our Constitution but there are people now, including officials, who are working for it. Me, I don’t see the necessity, considering the way some criminals ask for it when they engage in shoot-outs with the cops or allow themselves to be “shot while trying to escape”. Personally, I don’t think the proposal will click. Do you?*

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