Actress Rhian Ramos and Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee. From the Instagram accounts of Dee and Ramos.
MANILA -- A personal driver and assistant has filed a complaint before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) accusing an actress and two beauty queens of physical assault, torture, and serious illegal detention allegedly committed inside a condominium unit in Makati City.
According to the complainant, the incident allegedly occurred on January 17, after he was accused of stealing private photos belonging to the actress.
He claimed he was beaten and tortured by the actress and her companions, identified as beauty queens Michelle Dee and another individual. The complainant presented bruises and injuries, which he said were inflicted during the alleged assault.
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“I told them the photos were not with me, but I was beaten. Alcohol was sprayed into my eyes, and my eyes were poked with fingers,” the complainant said.
He further alleged that two male bodyguards were present while the three women were allegedly hurting him and that he was detained inside the condominium unit for three days. Due to the alleged abuse, he claimed he attempted to escape by jumping from the unit.
“I jumped from the 39th floor but managed to hold onto a rope. I was brought back by condominium security,” he added.
Following the incident, the complainant was brought to the Makati Police Station and was charged with qualified theft. However, the case was later dismissed by the prosecutor’s office, and he was released on January 22.
In a statement, Atty. Maggie Abraham-Garduque, legal counsel for Michelle Dee and Rhian Ramos, said it was Dee who initially filed a complaint against the driver.
“The last incident of our clients with Mr... was when Michelle Dee filed a criminal case for qualified theft against him, which he admitted, and he even returned some of the items,” Garduque said.
The lawyer also denied allegations of illegal detention, stating that the driver was a resident of the condominium as part of his employment.
“As far as our client is concerned, there was no incident of illegal detention since Mr... was a resident of the condominium,” she added.
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Garduque said her clients have yet to receive a copy of the complaint filed before the NBI and assured they will respond accordingly.
“Our clients have not received a copy of the complaint allegedly filed against them. They will answer once they receive it,” she said.
The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) confirmed that the complainant sought their assistance in filing the case. Meanwhile, ABS-CBN News is still seeking the side of the other beauty queen mentioned in the complaint.