Kapuso actress and beauty queen Michelle Dee has refiled a complaint for qualified theft against a former driver of her close friend Rhian Ramos, identified only as “Alias Totoy,” after an earlier case was dismissed on procedural grounds.
Dee personally went to the Makati Prosecutor’s Office to lodge the complaint anew, stemming from the alleged taking of an angpao that reportedly contained 10 valuable items. According to the actress, the angpao was taken without her or Ramos’ knowledge.
The complaint was first filed on January 19 but was dismissed by prosecutors, resulting in the driver’s release from detention. Dee’s lawyer, Maggie Garduque, explained that the case had to be refiled to follow proper legal procedure, as it was deemed not subject to inquest proceedings.
“The issue in the city prosecutor’s earlier resolution was whether the case was proper for inquest,” Garduque said in an interview. “They recommended that it be brought to a regular preliminary investigation, where the merits of the case will be evaluated to determine if there is sufficient basis to indict [Alias Totoy] for qualified theft.”
Garduque also disclosed that nine of the items allegedly inside the angpao have already been returned to Dee, with the help of the driver’s wife. However, one item remains missing.
On February 3, Alias Totoy returned to the Makati Police Station, where he was initially brought following the January 19 incident. The driver claimed he was physically harmed by police officers during his detention from January 19 until his release on January 22.
Earlier, the driver had filed countercharges against Dee, Ramos, and beauty queen Samantha Panlilio, accusing them of torture and serious illegal detention. He previously said he believed the angpao he took was a Christmas gift.
In response to the allegations of police abuse, Pedro Alagano, Makati’s chief of police, said authorities would ensure full transparency and cooperation with investigators. He confirmed that the police station has already provided the National Bureau of Investigation with CCTV footage covering the period when the driver was in custody.
The preliminary investigation on the refiled qualified theft complaint is now expected to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to formally indict the driver.
