Complaint vs. Michelle Dee, Rhian Ramos dismissed

The Makati City Prosecutor’s Office has dismissed the complaint filed by Bonifacio Baro alias “Totoy” against Michelle Dee, Rhian Ramos, Samantha Panlilio, and others over alleged physical injuries, maltreatment, and unlawful arrest, citing insufficient evidence.

The complaint stemmed from a January incident at a condominium in Makati City, where Totoy, a former driver and personal assistant of Ramos, accused the celebrities and their associates of physically assaulting and illegally detaining him. The allegations were denied by the celebrities.

Totoy, who was assisted by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), initially accused Ramos, Dee, and Panlilio of torture and illegal detention and filed a complaint with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in January.

The dispute reportedly centered on a missing envelope and its contents. Dee had previously filed a qualified theft complaint against Totoy, accusing him of taking sensitive images. However, the qualified theft complaint was later dismissed by the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office.

Dee and Ramos’ legal counsel, Maggie Abraham-Garduque, said the medical examination conducted at the hospital did not show signs consistent with the alleged mauling. She also said the injuries Totoy later showed to the media did not correspond with his account of the incident.

Meanwhile, Barangay Urdaneta in Makati City reportedly confirmed that Dee personally filed a blotter report against a driver on January 18. In the report, Dee claimed that she sustained bruises, scratches, and nail marks on her right arm caused by the driver.

The latest dismissal adds to a series of complaints arising from the dispute between Totoy and the celebrities. 

Dee and Ramos are close friends and have established careers in the entertainment industry, with Dee also making her mark in pageantry. Dee represented the Philippines in the Miss Universe 2023 pageant where she finished in the Top 10. Panlilio is likewise a familiar name in beauty contests, having represented the country in the Miss Grand International 2021 pageant.