MANILA -- Businessman Cedric Lee on Friday claimed that he was only kissing model Deniece Cornejo in jest and joked that she was "delicious enough to be raped."
"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.
