MANILA — Beauty queen Michelle Dee filed cyberlibel complaints against internet personality Xian Gaza and four Facebook pages for allegedly spreading false information about her.

Dee filed the complaint before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on February 16, accompanied by her lawyer, Maggie Garduque.

“Napakarami na po halos araw-araw may mga lumalabas na mga maling impormasyon tungkol po kay Michelle,” Garduque told reporters. (There are so many, almost every day, false information about Michelle keeps coming out.)

The complaint stems from Facebook posts by Gaza that mentioned Dee, as stated in the complaint-affidavit. The affidavit also listed four Facebook pages: Sarap Pinoy, Bagong Umaga News, Pinoy Star Buzz, and Celeb News.

Gaza responded in a Facebook post, describing the filing as “strategic,” claiming it was meant to shift attention to him instead of the “driver they ganged up upon and detained illegally.”

“The news headlines will become Michelle Dee vs Xian Gaza tapos siya na ngayon yung biktima na lumalaban,” Gaza wrote. (The news headlines will become Michelle Dee vs Xian Gaza and then she is now the victim who is fighting back.)

The dispute traces back to an earlier incident involving Dee, actress Rhian Ramos, and beauty queen Samantha Panlilio, who were accused of ganging up on Ramos’ driver over the alleged theft of an “angpao” said to contain sensitive photographs.

Dee subsequently filed a qualified theft complaint against the driver. On January 19, the Makati Prosecutors’ Office dismissed the complaint and recommended filing it through regular preliminary investigation proceedings. Dee refiled the complaint on January 30.

The driver, meanwhile, filed complaints of serious illegal detention, torture, and assault against Dee, Ramos, Panlilio, several bodyguards, and police officers.