Driver files rjaps vs Rhian Ramos, 2 others

MANILA, Philippines — The former driver of celebrity Rhian Ramos yesterday filed charges against her and two other celebrities over a condominium incident in Makati in January.

The driver, known only as Totoy, charged Ramos, Michelle Dee and Samantha Panlilio with slight illegal detention, unlawful arrest and physical injuries before the Makati prosecutor’s office.

Arsenio Evangelista, president of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, where Totoy first sought help, said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)’s homicide division found a “strong” case against the respondents.

“Even though it took (the NBI) more than four months, I think the case is airtight. We are confident that this will be filed before the regional trial court,” Evangelista told reporters.

Totoy accused Ramos, Dee and Panlilio, along with Dee’s two bodyguards, of locking him up inside a condominium unit from Jan. 17 to 19 for supposedly stealing an angpao that contained sensitive photos.

Dee then brought Totoy to the Makati police station and charged him with qualified theft.

The driver alleged that he suffered torture at the hands of the police officers.

Totoy was released from detention on Jan. 22 after the Makati prosecutor’s office junked the case filed against him.

The camp of Dee charged Totoy with qualified theft and perjury in February for allegedly stealing items from her condominium unit on Jan. 17.

Dee’s lawyer, Maggie Abraham-Garduque, tagged the lawsuit as a “retaliation” since the Makati prosecutor indicted Totoy for theft on May 11.

The prosecutor downgraded the case because there was no grave abuse of confidence to sustain a qualified theft charge.

“We find the filing of the case suspicious, considering that there are more pressing cases and controversies the agency needs to attend to right now,” Garduque told The STAR.