Roxanne Cabanero Loses Job Over Vhong Navarro Case

Image courtesy of www.abs-cbnnews.com

Source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Former pageant contestant Roxanne Cabanero is now jobless after she accused actor-host Vhong Navarro of raping her.

"Right now, actually I'm not [working]," Cabanero told ABS-CBN News Ginger Conejero on Monday. "I lost my job because of this case."

Cabanero, who was formerly a freelance research analyst and a paralegal, clarified that she was not fired. She said the company she was working for opted not to renew her contract following the controversy involving Navarro.

"It's just that nag-end na 'yung contract ko and I tried to renew it and then they said na... I cannot comment anymore, sorry," she said.

Cabanero filed her rape complaint against Navarro last February 19, at the height of the legal battle between the actor and the camp of businessman Cedric Lee and model Deniece Cornejo, who are now facing arrest warrants.

She has repeatedly denied having ties with them, saying she does not want Lee's case affecting her own legal battle with Navarro.

Cabanero alleged that Navarro raped her in 2010 during her time as a contestant in the Miss Bikini Philippines pageant.

While her complaint-affidavit specified that the alleged incident happened on the night of April 24, Cabanero has since claimed she can no longer remember the exact date. This, after Island Cove and comedian Vice Ganda supported Navarro's claim that he was performing at the resort in Cavite on April 24.

Aside from a perjury case filed by Navarro, Cabanero was also slapped with a P1.6-million lawsuit by the organizer of Miss Bikini Philippines "for the damage sustained by [the organization's] goodwill and business reputation."

"Mahirap, but I'm trying my best to be strong. Nagpapakatatag ako," Cabanero said on Monday. "And I'm very confident about this case, kasi sinasabi ko 'yung totoo."

Asked if she remains hopeful about "seeking justice," despite some setbacks, Cabanero said, "Kung iyon ang pagdadaanan ko dahil pinaglaban ko ang sarili ko at ang karapatan ko, gagawin at gagawin ko ang lahat."

Despite losing her job, Cabanero said she does not regret filing the rape case against Navarro, "dahil pinaglaban ko ang sarili ko, pinaglaban ko 'yung karapatan ko bilang isang babae, at tama lang na gawin ko 'yon dahil lahat naman tayo may karapatan."

"Na-rape ako. At masakit. Right now, it's just... Mahirap 'yung pinagdadaanan ko."