Lawyer says mauling claims against Rhian Ramos and Michelle Dee are "physically impossible"

• The legal counsel for Rhian Ramos and Michelle Dee categorically denied the allegations of mauling and illegal detention filed by Ramos’ former driver
• Atty. Maggie Abraham-Garduque pointed out that Michelle Dee was in Iloilo on January 17, making the alleged three-day ordeal "physically impossible"
• Medical records from the Makati City Police station reportedly showed no signs of physical injuries or bruises on the complainant during his inquest
• The actresses' camp is considering filing criminal charges for libel and perjury as they maintain the allegations have caused extreme damage to their reputations

The legal battle involving Rhian Ramos and Michelle Dee has taken a sharp turn as their lawyer released an official statement to Fast Talk with Boy Abunda. Atty. Maggie Abraham-Garduque addressed the serious allegations made by Rhian’s driver, who claimed he was subjected to physical assault and illegal detention from January 17 to 19.

The lawyer first clarified that no formal criminal complaint has been filed in court yet. She explained that the current documents with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are merely for investigation. Foremost, we would like to clarify that there is no formal criminal complaint fi against our clients yet, the statement read.

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According to the defense, the timeline provided by the driver does not hold up against travel records. Secondly, based on the interviews of (the complainant) which were released on television yesterday, his allegations of mauling/physical injuries and illegal detention is not only physically impossible but incredible, Garduque stated. She highlighted that Michelle Dee was actually in Iloilo on January 17 and only returned to Manila on the 18th.

Furthermore, the lawyer noted that when the driver was brought to the Makati City Police station on January 19 for an inquest investigation regarding a separate qualified theft complaint, a medical exam at Ospital ng Makati yielded no evidence of abuse. No signs of said mauling (were) seen during his medical examination, the statement confirmed, adding that his appearance in media interviews showed no visible bruises or injuries despite his claims of being punched and kicked.

The camp of the two stars emphasized that there was no criminal intent to detain the driver, as he was handed over to the proper authorities for investigation. Lastly, all crimes must be attended by or criminal intent. There is no criminal intent to detail if (the complainant) was brought to the police station for investigation by proper authorities, the lawyer added.

Due to the heavy backlash and "extreme damage" to the reputations of Ramos and Dee, their legal team is now preparing for a potential counter-suit. They reserved the right to file cases for libel and perjury against the driver for what they described as defamatory public allegations.

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Makeup artist claims to have alibi for Michelle Dee and Rhian Ramos

Rhian Ramos and Michelle Dee are well-known figures in the Philippine entertainment industry and are known to be very close friends and "housemates." Rhian is a seasoned actress under GMA Network, while Michelle Dee is a celebrated beauty queen who represented the Philippines in Miss Universe 2023. The controversy began when Rhian's driver, identified as "Totoy," surfaced with allegations of abuse following a dispute over an angpao (red envelope) allegedly containing sensitive items.

A celebrity makeup artist has come forward to defend Michelle Dee and Rhian Ramos, corroborating the lawyer's statement regarding their whereabouts. The artist claimed that they were with Michelle in Iloilo during the dates mentioned in the driver's complaint. This development adds another layer of evidence to the actresses' defense against the serious allegations.

Amidst the ongoing legal issues, Rhian Ramos took the time to share a heartfelt message for celebrity doctor Vicki Belo's birthday. The actress posted a tribute on social media, expressing her gratitude and love for the doctor who has been a long-time friend. Fans noted that Rhian seemed to be keeping her composure despite the public controversy involving her former employee.

Source: KAMI.com.gh