Lawyers representing actress and beauty queen Michelle Dee and actress Rhian Ramos rejected allegations of assault, torture, and illegal detention raised by a former driver, arguing that the timeline and medical records cited by the complainant do not support the accusations.
During Thursday’s episode of Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, counsel Maggie Abraham-Garduque said records place Dee outside Metro Manila when the alleged acts were said to have occurred, describing the account as incompatible with verified movements and procedures.
The allegations, submitted earlier this week to the National Bureau of Investigation, name Dee, Rhian Ramos, and another beauty queen in a complaint sheet seeking an investigation over claims of abuse inside a Makati City condominium.
“Foremost, we would like to clarify that there is no formal criminal complaint filed against our clients yet. The complaint sheet submitted by (the complainant) before the NBI is made seeking for the investigation of the NBI on this matter. It was only when a complaint was filed before the prosecutor’s office that a formal criminal complaint is initiated,” Abraham-Garduque said.
Addressing the substance of the accusations, she cited travel and custody records that, according to the defense, undermine the timeline alleged by the complainant. “According to (the complainant), he was detained and mauled for three days starting January 17 to January 19. However, records would show that Michelle Dee was in Iloilo on January 17 and was able to go back only on the 18th. On the 19th, records likewise would show that (the complainant) was already in the Makati City Police station for inquest investigation. As a matter of procedure, he was brought to Ospital ng Makati for medical examination before incarcerated in said station. No signs of said mauling [were] seen during his medical examination,” she said.
The lawyer also pointed to what she described as inconsistencies between the injuries claimed and those visible in media interviews. “Moreover, his allegations do not match the injuries he showed to the media. He said he was punched, kicked, slapped and his eye was likewise poked with the nails of Michelle. However, he failed to show any bruises or injury in his body, face, and eye. Contrarily, these parts of the body were clean as shown in his interviews,” she added.
Abraham-Garduque said her clients are considering legal remedies in response to the public accusations. “We hope that with proper investigation, NBI will find that there is lack of evidence to show prima facie case for these complaints to be filed before the prosecutor’s office. However, since extreme damage has already been done to the reputation of our clients, we reserve the right to file criminal cases for libel and perjury against (the complainant) for the defamatory allegations he publicly made against our clients,” the statement said.
