MANILA, Philippines–After Deniece Cornejo protested the dismissal of her rape complaint by making cuts on her arm inside her detention cell, the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has started implementing stricter measures to prevent a repeat of the incident.
CIDG spokesperson Chief Insp. Elizabeth Jasmin said on Monday that inspections were now being conducted three times a day from the previous twice-a-day schedule.
According to Jasmin, the stricter rules were meant to protect everyone inside the CIDG detention center. “We are doing this to ensure the safety of our inmates. We don’t want a repeat of the incident,” she said.
PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac said that guards had been directed to regularly check on Cornejo following the incident, which happened around 3 a.m. on Sunday.
The model cut herself with a metal bottle cap, scratching the letters “WR” on her left arm to protest the junking of the second rape complaint she filed against TV host and actor Vhong Navarro.
The letters reportedly stand for “women’s rights,” signifying her dismay over the Taguig City prosecutor’s decision.
Jasmin said the cuts were shallow and Cornejo did not need to be taken to the PNP hospital.
Sindac added that the model was examined by Women and Children’s Protection unit head Supt. Emma Trinidad who noted that her wound was not life-threatening.
Meanwhile, the CIDG will be prohibiting the entry of certain food items into its detention cells, especially those that may be used by inmates to hurt themselves.
“Both the inmates and duty personnel were also told to see to it that the detention facility was always clean, with the facility to be cleaned after mealtime,” Jasmin added.
Cornejo, who is detained on serious illegal detention charges after she and her friends allegedly tried to frame Navarro for rape, shares the detention facility with 10 other women inmates.
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