Rhian Ramos' driver files complaint vs. actress, Michelle Dee, others; actresses’ camp denies illegal detention

A 40-year-old man who identified himself as Rhian Ramos’ driver and personal assistant, has filed a complaint with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against Ramos, Michelle Dee, Samantha Panlilio, two of Dee’s bodyguards, and members of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

They allegedly locked him in a room and beat him up after being accused of stealing an angpao that contained private photos. 

According to John Consulta’s report on “24 Oras” on Wednesday, Totoy (not his real name) filed his complaint before the NBI in Pasay City along with the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC). 

Totoy claimed that on January 17,  he was forcibly brought to Ramos and Dee’s condo unit, where he was told to admit that he stole an angpao with sensitive pictures from the condo unit. 

"Kinausap ako ng pulis, 'nasa 'yo ba talaga?' Sabi ko wala po sir," Totoy said.

Totoy alleged that he was locked in the condo unit for three days while reportedly getting assaulted by Dee’s bodyguards.

“Bigla po akong hinatak ng dalawang bodyguard. Pinagbubugbog nila ako sa loob, sinisipa ako, suntok kahit sa gilid ng CR," he said. 

Totoy also claimed that Dee beat him up. 

“Pinatayo ako niya tapos sinikmuraan ako tapos sabi niya, ‘akin na, para matapos na 'yung usapan natin ngayon.’ Sabi ko ‘ma’am wala po sa ‘kin.’ Pagsabi ko wala, titirahin na naman niya ako,” he said.

“Binugahan niya ako ng alcohol buong katawan ko, pati mata ko. Tapos hinawakan niya dito tinusok mata ko ng dalawang daliri niya." 

Totoy claimed that Ramos also allegedly beat him.

“Sinapak po niya ako dito. Nakainom siya eh, tapos binatukan niya ‘ko dito, ‘di ko mabilang ilang beses,” he said.

Totoy asserted that the photos were not with him.At one point, “Totoy” also heard a conversation between the bodyguards. 

“May narinig ako na tatapusin na nila ‘ko. Tatapusin na buhay ko,” he said. 

To escape, Totoy said he jumped from the 39th floor of the condominium to the 25th floor, where he was able to hang onto a rope. A room on the 25th floor happened to be open, so he was able to go in

However, when he got down to the condominium, Dee's bodyguards were waiting for him and brought him back to the unit.

"Sakto po pagbaba ko, mayroon na po nakaabang dun 'yung OIC tapos 'yung bodyguard niya. Dinampot ulit ako tapos inakyat ako sa taas ulit," he said. 

Per Consulta's report, Dee brought Totoy to the police station on January 19 where they filed a qualified theft complaint against him. 

While there, Totoy alleged that he experienced more violence at the hands of the police. 

“Sabi sa 'kin buka mo ‘yung kamay mo, ginanyan ko ‘yung kamay ko, hinampas niya bigla ‘yung parang sa arnis, ‘yung sa kawayan,” he said. “Bigla ‘to sir namula, lumabas agad ‘yung dugo.”

“Tapos paglabas ‘yung isa naman medyo mataba na mababa na pulis, pagpasok niya, naka-tsinelas lang kasi ako, inapakan niya ang paa ko, dinidiin niya." 

On January 22, Totoy was released from the police station after the Makati Prosecutor’s Office dismissed the complaint against him.

VACC President Boy Evangelista said that they took recognition of the case due to its weight, noting that "Totoy" was detained for three days and physically assaulted. 

NBI Director Atty. Lito Magno also said that the agency will proceed accordingly if the evidence supports filing a case against the individuals behind the alleged crime. 

“Kung ang ebidensya ay nagbibigay para sampahan ng isang kaso itong mga nasa likod ng krimen na kanyang binabanggit, ay gagawin natin," he noted. 

Meanwhile, according to Ramos and Dee’s lawyer, Atty. Maggie Abraham-Garduque, their camp will release a statement once they receive a copy of the complaint.

"As of the moment, we do not have the copy of the complaint yet. So we will have to get a copy of the complaint first before we can answer all the allegations against our client," Abraham-Garduque said in a phone interview that aired on "24 Oras." 

"The last incident that he had with the driver of Rhian is during that time na nag-file siya ng qualified theft. There were medical certificates before the arrest, and meron din namang mugshots," she added. 

In Abraham-Garduque's full statement sent to GMA Integrated News, she also denied the illegal detention that "Totoy" claimed had transpired. 

"As far as our client is concerned, there is no incident of illegal detention happened as (he) was a resident of the condo, being the driver of Rhian," she said. 

“The last incident of our clients with (he) was when Michelle Dee filed a criminal case for qualified theft against him, which he admitted and he even returned some of the items to Michelle. Thus, our clients cannot think of any reason for initiating this complaint but a leverage and vindictive suit to said qualified theft case," she added. 

According to Consulta's report, "Totoy" included beauty queen Samantha Panlilio in his complaint for also allegedly assaulting him. 

GMA Integrated News is currently trying to reach out to Panlilio for comment.—Nika Roque/CDC/NB, GMA Integrated News