MANILA - Two weeks after the controversial mauling incident in Taguig, actor Vhong Navarro is on his way to full recovery, his lawyer said on Wednesday.
Speaking with ABS-CBN News's Marie Lozano, Navarro's legal counsel Atty. Alma Mallonga said the TV host is "about 80 to 90 percent okay already."
"Ang makikita mong bakas sa kanya ay 'yung nandoon sa mga areas ng mata parin niya, but that's eventually going to heal," she said. "Ang hindi natin alam 'yung mga long-term complications, especially because medyo nabugbog 'yung mga mata niya."
 |
| Vhong Navarro |
"We will not be able to see that now, 'yung effects. Ang sabi sa akin ng isang doktor nga, baka magkaroon ng epekto, pwedeng a month after or even years later. Hindi natin masasabi right now. We're just hoping that he will be okay.
According to a medical bulletin released three days after the January 22 incident, Navarro suffered from "contusion hematoma around his eyes, forehead, chin and some parts of his extremities."
The "It's Showtime" mainstay also had to undergo reconstructive surgery due to broken bones in his nose, according to his doctor.
Navarro claimed that he was set up by model Deniece Cornejo for an extortion attempt allegedly led by businessmen Cedric Lee.
The actor said he was blindfolded, tied up, and attacked by at least six men inside Cornejo's condominium unit.
Recalling the incident in a January 26 interview on "Buzz ng Bayan," an emotional Navarro said his private parts were also allegedly abused and recorded on video.
Referring to Navarro's experience, Mallonga said, "Ang aking concern sa kanya is of course I am not able to say that he is psychologically healed dahil sa trauma that he underwent."
"He is receiving care," she added. "Ang hope natin is gumaling siya in all respects, hindi lang pisikal, kundi emosyonal, psychological, and even spritually."
Mallonga added that Navarro is preparing to face the preliminary investigation into the incident, saying their camp would not mind if it were moved to an earlier date.
The actor filed six criminal charges against Lee and Cornejo's group: serious physical injuries, grave threat, grave coercion, unlawful arrest, blackmail, and serious illegal detention -- a non-bailable offense.
Cornejo, on the other hand, filed a rape case against Navarro.
