Two of Philippine showbiz’s most visible names are pushing back hard against accusations that, they say, have no factual basis.

Through legal counsel, Michelle Dee and Rhian Ramos have formally denied a complaint for illegal detention reportedly filed against them at the National Bureau of Investigation by their former driver.

In a statement released by their camp, lawyer Maggie Abraham-Garduque clarified that, as of this writing, no official copy of the complaint has been served to the actresses. Even so, their legal team was unequivocal in rejecting the allegation, stressing that no act of illegal detention ever took place.

According to the statement, the complainant—identified as Mr. Baro—was not being held against his will and was, in fact, a resident of the same condominium complex as the two stars due to his employment as Rhian Ramos’ driver. The lawyer emphasized that this context alone undermines the core of the accusation.

The denial also revealed a deeper, more complicated backstory. Prior to the filing of the alleged detention complaint, Michelle Dee had already initiated a qualified theft case against the same driver. The legal team said the driver admitted to taking personal items belonging to Dee and had since returned some of the missing property.

Given this sequence of events, the actresses’ camp believes the NBI complaint is retaliatory in nature. Their lawyer described it as a move intended to gain leverage against the theft case rather than a legitimate claim, calling it a “vindictive” action.

The issue gained traction after the driver spoke to various media outlets about his accusations, prompting Michelle and Rhian to address the matter publicly. Their camp said the statement was issued to correct the narrative and protect the actresses’ reputations.

For now, the two remain firm in their position and say they are prepared to formally respond through proper legal channels once the official documents are received.

As the case unfolds, both camps appear headed for a legal showdown—one that will hinge not on sound bites, but on records, timelines, and the courts.