THE TIPPING POINT: ATTY. RAYMOND FORTUN IS DEFENSE COUNSEL OF CEDRIC LEE

The Cedric Lee-Deniece Cornejo-Vhong Navarro saga continues. The case is widely discussed in social networks and judgments are already dispensed via Twitter and Facebook even before the cases are filed in the proper court.

When news about the mauling of Vhong Navarro trickled in, Atty. Raymond Fortun, Erap's counsel during his impeachment, pitched in his opinions via his Facebook account. It was clear from the very start that he was not buying the extortion case against Cedric Lee. He thinks that there is no extortion. He explained his opinion and not a few were clarified on his views.

Atty. Fortun's early morning post today is a breaking news. He just formalized what I have been expecting and waiting to read:

Here is Atty. Fortun's post, reposted. 

"A "tipping point" is the point at which an issue, idea, product, etc., crosses a certain threshhold and gains significant momentum, triggered by some minor factor or change. My life is somewhat an open book to people in my social circle in Facebook. I have not been afraid to speak my mind out on issues that have a public/social dimension. And i have not been wary of talking about a current raging controversy involving a TV/movie personality and a supposed "bad boy". My opinions and comments are ALL a matter of public record. What "broke the camel's back" for me to lean towards the "bad boy" was the episode in The Buzz where a supposed expert in human behaviour analysed the supposed body language of Bad Boy during his one and only interview. As my wife Carole Fortun and i were watching the explanation, i could not help but blurt out, "This is b******t! So if one tilts his head to one side, that is already indicative of lying? If one looks to the side, that means CL was asking for confirmation from somebody else? B******t!" That "The Buzz" episode made me realise how a powerful media entity can use its unlimited resources in order to sway public opinion to demonize a person. This, as a lawyer dedicated to bring out the truth, I cannot accept. I love the underdog. I never rooted for Michael Jordan because he was too good. I never cheered for Jaworski either, because everybody seemed to root for Ginebra. I enjoy the good fight, and i relish handling the toughest cases. Because of what this powerful media network and the NBI have done way beyond their respective duties to the public, Cedric Lee is, in my eyes, an underdog. Justice must be served, but it must not be in accordance with the conductor's beat of someone along Panay Avenue. So i contribute my voice into this dispute NOT TO TWIST THE TRUTH but to make sense of the madness. And i apologise to all of you if you think that i have let you down. At the end of the day, i concede that i cannot please everyone, but my only comfort is that i can face my Maker with a straight face and tell Him that i had done my duty to Him and to my profession."

 He narrated further:

Raymond Fortun It is b******t and yet this media outfit featured it. Sabi ko kay Carole, "I would LOVE to cross-examine this doctor and make her opinions look so stupid."

That very night, CL called me and asked for my help. Fate.

His Facebook followers were divided in opinion. Some were supportive.

Cherrie Villacorte-Palino I happen to watch it too.. just by actions nadedetect nung doctor na yun kung nagsisinungaling yung tao. Pati rotation ng eye parang pag to the left umikot mata mo nagsisinungaling na agad.. eh pano kung mannerism na yun.. medyo di ako naniwala sa part na yun

Claire Hazel Juco Very well said Atty. Raymond Fortun

Aaron Paul Interior swerte ni Cedric...

Jonathan B. Jimenez Hmmmm, im still divided on whats the truth. Truth shall prevail. Pag may katwiran, ipaglaban mo.

Elijah Dindo Ortiz atty ang importante ang prinsipyo nio, bilib ako sa inio at pinaglalaban nio yan

Tina C. Villalobos If you a have a money to pay atty. Fortun why not? A Lawyer is always a Lawyer...it depends who are their clients

Some were disappointed.

Honey Gee Carr CL is not credible (sira integrity niya with all his adulterous relationships) and is certainly not an underdog. He has the right to choose the best atty to defend him. Wala naman lusot Kay Jesus. Makalusot man sa court, God knows the truth. Mas nakakatakot yun.

Sandra Suarez Haha....The first underdog I've heard of with moves around with bodyguards, no less PNP escorts....the good thing about this? Your client, Cedric Lee is now facing the courts, not only through the eyes of some judge but the entire nation...this will somehow stop him from pushing his weight around...lessons come from every misfortune...good for him he found a fortun! Let me share this. In a tombstone of some lawyer it said: Here lies a lawyer who lies still! Good luck Atty. Fortun...we all know you are one of the best...just proved Cedric is no underdog after all.

Joberlie Eran im still for vhong.. I will stick to this principle "no one is above the law and no one is above God." if ma abswelto yang cedric na yan surely they will do it again...

JAy JAy Pama a billionaire underdog huh? with a history of committing adultery an underdog that can afford police escort abugado ka nga sir

Aldo Receno Yuson Kung trabaho ng abogado mag-defend, and I agree 100%, mag-defend na lang siya. Wag na subukan i-salvage ang dignidad by posting statuses like this that reeks of guilt and the need for public approval.

To those who questioned the "underdog" label, this is Atty. Fortun's explanation:

Raymond Fortun Susan Vecina Santos please read my comment again. My "underdog" comment is NOT about the merits of the case, but how this media entity has gone overboard in demonizing the person. Kung nambugbog sya, then let justice be meted out to him. But it is totally unfair to bring out a so-called "behaviour expert" and say that the person is a liar simply because he tilts his head one way.

To those who were disappointed, Atty. Fortun has this to say:

Raymond Fortun Aldo Receno Yuson I am not asking for public approval sir. But I have friends who will ask why (they have already done so thru text) and FB is the most convenient way. As I said, I do not expect you or other people to believe me, simply because you do not know me personally. For the same reason, I respect your opinion about me and will not make any effort to change your mind. 

It is indeed a not-too popular decision but everyone deserves to be represented by a counsel of his choice in the court of law. 

Some honest-to-goodness questions I want to ask Atty. Fortun: 

Have you watched the CCTV footage? Is not the video contradictory to what Cedric narrated in his first tv interview? 

Why base your decision to defend Cedric on a psychiatrist's opinion and why not give more weight on the CCTV footage that is more "factual" if you are after the truth? 

Are you convinced that Deniece Cornejo was raped? 

Do you really think it's "fate" that brought CL to you? or was it Facebook since you were so vocal with your opinions from the start that your doubt the extortion angle and someone might have tipped Cedric to call you? 

The opinion of the psychiatrist that you want to cross-examine is not that important to the case since Cedric has admitted that he and his friends mauled Vhong. How would you defend someone who has already confessed to the crime?  

Do you support Atty. Fortun's decision? Tell us in the comments section below.

 This case has become even more interesting.

UPDATE:

Atty. Raymond Fortun has clarified that he is not one of the lawyers of Cedric Lee. He is Lee's spokesman. (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/02/08/14/fortun-lee-spokesman-not-lawyer)