(Content warning: This article contains mentions of self-harm and physical assault)
Renowned footwear designer Jojo Bragais expressed doubt over the claims of actress Rhian Ramos’ personal driver that beauty queens Michelle Dee and Samantha Panlilio physically assaulted him.
The designer posted the following on his Facebook account on Thursday, January 29:
“Base sa pano ko kilala si MMD and SamPan, I doubt they could do [‘yung] mga issues na binabato.”
MMD is the nickname of Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Top 10 finalist Michelle Dee, whose full name is Michelle Marquez Dee.
SamPan, meanwhile, refers to Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Top 18 Samantha Panlilio.
“Parehong chill na tao ‘to. And nasa Iloilo kami nila MMD nung January 17,” Jojo added.
The designer’s post has garnered more than 2,300 likes and reactions, along with nearly 600 comments, including some from Jojo himself.
When asked whether Michelle has a bodyguard, the designer replied, “Sa mga raket namin na magkakasama, RM [road manager] ang kasama at ‘di bodyguard.”
“Wala akong maalala base sa aking memory at personal na pagsasama na may ganap kaming may dala siyang bodyguard. Mapa-event, provincial judging or commercial shoot,” Jojo added.
In another comment, the designer stressed that he was merely sharing his thoughts based on his personal knowledge of them.
“Ang sinasabi ko lang, base sa pag kakakilala ko ay mga chill na tao. Madaming beses kami nagka-work at sama sa industry ng pageantry. And naniniwala ako na the truth will always come out naman. Basta ako, I’m speaking po base on experience ng personal encounters ko with both of them,” Jojo wrote.
Celebrity makeup artist Dave Quiambao also questioned the timeline of events described by the driver, who claimed he was beaten by Rhian’s bodyguards around 3 a.m. on January 17, with Michelle and Sam following later that day.
“Paano nangyare ‘to ng January 17 eh, nasa Iloilo kami? Panooo???” he exclaimed in a Facebook post.
Michelle recently attended the Miss Iloilo 2026 coronation night as a guest on January 17.
What happened?
Rhian’s driver, Bonifacio Baro, filed a complaint with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday, January 28, accusing Rhian, Michelle and Samantha of physically assaulting and torturing him at Rhian’s residence on January 17 and 18.
Bonifacio recounted that he and Rhian had just returned from a taping when the alleged incident occurred.
He said he was ambushed and attacked by Rhian and her bodyguards inside her condominium on the 39th floor of a residential complex in Makati City.
“Galing kami sa taping… Pag-uwi ko po ng alas tres ng madaling araw, kami ni [actress]… Pagbaba ko po ng gamit, bigla akong hinawakan at binugbog ako sa loob… Nagmamakaawa po ako, at binubugbog pa rin nila ako,” Bonifacio said.
The following day, January 18, Bonifacio said he attempted to end his life by jumping from a 39th-floor window. He claimed his attempt failed after he became entangled in an electrical cable, causing him to fall to the 25th floor of the building.
He then reportedly went to the building’s lobby but was intercepted by Rhian’s bodyguards and taken back to the 39th floor. According to the complaint, Michelle and Samantha allegedly joined in the assault there.
In his statement, Bonifacio said that Michelle allegedly stripped him, doused him with rubbing alcohol and forced him to perform acts against his will. He also claimed that Rhian’s bodyguards forced him to drink his own urine in addition to beating him.
Bonifacio was also detained at a police station in One Ayala, Makati, after Michelle filed a qualified theft complaint against him for supposedly stealing one of her sensitive photographs from an ang pao (Chinese red envelope).
Reports said he claimed his wife found a photograph in an ang pao, prompting him to alert his celebrity employer.
Bonifacio claimed the incident was the reason he was allegedly assaulted and tortured.
The case was later dismissed due to a “lack of basis.”
Other side of story
Meanwhile, the camp of Michelle and Rhian denied Bonifacio’s claims of “illegal detention,” noting that he also resided in the same condominium owned by Rhian.
“Our clients have not received a copy of the complaint allegedly filed against them before the NBI. They will answer as soon as they [receive] the copy of said complaint,” lawyer Maggie Abraham-Garduque, the legal counsel of Michelle and Rhian, said.
Their lawyer also said that Bonifacio “admitted” to the qualified theft complaint “and even returned some of the items to Michelle.”
“Thus, our clients cannot think of any reason for initiating this complaint but a leverage and vindictive suit to said qualified theft case,” Maggie said.
Samantha’s camp has not yet released a statement regarding Bonifacio’s claims. — with reports from Philstar.com/Jan Milo Severo
