‘Review cases filed vs Rhian Ramos, Michelle Dee’

MANILA, Philippines — The Makati City prosecutor’s office has been asked to reconsider its dismissal of the complaints filed by a driver against actress Rhian Ramos as well as beauty queens Michelle Dee and Samantha Panlilio.

The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), through lawyer Argel Joseph Cabatbat, also sought the inhibition of the prosecutors who handled the case.

The group asked the Department of Justice to designate an independent panel to review the complaints.

The VACC questioned the Sept. 1 joint resolution dismissing the complaints for slight illegal detention, slight physical injuries, maltreatment and unlawful arrest filed by Bonifacio Baro, alias Totoy.

Among the evidence cited by the VACC is a barangay blotter containing a statement attributed to Dee that Baro “made an attempt on his escape” and was later “caught and brought back to my condo unit.”

The VACC said the statement should be reviewed alongside National Bureau of Investigation-authenticated closed-circuit television footage and a condominium security officer’s statement, which it said could corroborate Baro’s account of being intercepted and returned to the condominium.

Baro, a former driver and personal assistant of Ramos, filed the complaints after an alleged incident at a Makati condominium in January.

The dispute involved a red envelope said to contain sensitive photographs.

Baro alleged that he was detained and physically assaulted – allegations that Dee, Ramos and Panlilio denied.