It is the story that made headlines in the final week of the month.
Last January 28, a man given the alias of “Totoy” appeared before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to file a complaint against actress Rhian Ramos and beauty queens Michelle Dee and Samantha Panlilio.
“Totoy” identified himself as the driver and assistant of Ramos.
In his interview with GMA News, the person said that his boss, who just came from a taping at the time, he was allegedly forcibly brought to a condominium unit on the 39th floor and was interrogated for a missing “ang pao” that contained sensitive photos.
He claimed that he was locked up in the unit for three days from January 17 to 19 as he was repeatedly beaten up by Dee’s bodyguards, with Michelle, herself, also allegedly punching him. Ramos, who he said was drunk, also repeatedly hit him on the back of his head.
“Totoy” then said that upon hearing the bodyguards of doing something worse onto him, he decided to leap from the 39th floor unit and landed on the 25th, where he exited to go down.
The driver-assistant then said he was once again brought up the unit afterwards by the bodyguards.
On January 19, Dee filed a qualified theft complaint, when he also alleged that the policemen at the station assaulted him by hitting him with an arnis stick, hurting his hands, and forcefully stepping on his feet.
Ultimately, on January 22, “Totoy” was released from police custody after the case was dismissed by the Makati Prosecutor’s Office.
In his complaint before the NBI, the man filed torture and illegal detention.
RAMOS AND DEE’S RESPONSE
Following the news, both actresses, through their legal consel Atty. Maggie Abraham-Garduque, aired their response through a statement on Fast Talk With Boy Abunda.
Their camp’s reply read: “Napanood namin yung interview ng driver ni Rhian Ramos, dito sa allegation na alleged mauling, torture, and illegal detention for three days daw. And we find this physically impossible and also incredible kasi based on the allegation of the driver, nangyari raw ‘yung alleged mauling and illegal detention, January 17 to 19.”
It continued, “However, records would show na si Michelle Dee was in Iloilo ng buong araw ng Jan 17, and she was able to go back to Manila only on January 18. So, meron naman siyang mga plane tickets, merong mga pictures or posts niya at ng ibang tao na magpapakita na talagang nandoon siya sa Miss Iloilo at nandoon siya sa Iloilo noong mga panahong ‘yun.“
“Records would show also na noong (January 19) nasa police station (ang complainant) for inquest investigation or inquest proceedings. So ‘yun ‘yung period ng tatlong araw. Para sa amin, imposible na ‘yung tatlong araw na ‘yun are period for detention and period for mauling,” their camp furthered.
Another media report showed that Dee also filed a barangay blotter against “Totoy” in the early hours of January 18.
In the copy obtained, the beauty queen-actress said she was physically harmed by “Totoy” who hurt her right arm that caused scratches, marks, and bruises.
The incident Michelle reported, as per the blotter, happened just hours after her return to Manila from Iloilo at around 3:00 am of January 18.
Moreover, it supported the story of “Totoy,” where he said he went down the 39th floor, but Dee’s account of the story indicated that he did it by using a gondola rope that he used to break through a unit. Eventually, when he reached street level, he was caught and brought back upstairs.
At present, the NBI is still in the process of verifying the case. Meanwhile, Panlilio, who is being linked to this case, has not yet provided anybo