Neri Miranda reflects on Dermacare arrest: 'Hindi ko talaga inakala na mapapasama ako sa Most Wanted sa Pilipinas'
For the first time, Neri Miranda has spoken about her arrest related to the Dermacare issue.
"Hindi ko talaga inakala na mapapasama ako sa Most Wanted sa Pilipinas," Neri started. "Tinawag akong magnanakaw, manloloko, at scammer. Never naman akong nagtago. Palagi nga akong nasa palengke, sa mga talks, at kahit saan pa—I have always been visible, hindi lang sa social media."
Neri said that she will tell her side of the story "when the time is right," and then contemplated the need to recount her experience. "Mula sa pagdakip sa akin, sa kahihiyan, sa pagkakadetain, at sa agarang paglipat sa BJMP, kung saan dali-dali akong pinasuot ng yellow uniform."
"But for now, let me just say this: It was a nightmare. Isang pagsubok at bangungot na hindi ko kailanman malilimutan," she said.
Despite the "labels, the ridicule, the judgment," Neri said she chose to be silent because she might say things she doesn't mean while in pain.
"Pero hindi ako yun. I refuse to let anger or hurt define me," the actress-businesswoman said.
Neri described her experience, saying that some people "celebrated" her lowest point and made content out of it. "They judged me, questioned me, and discredited my hard work."
But despite that, there were still others who " stood by me, defended me, and lifted me up without asking for anything in return."
"I see you, I appreciate you, and I hope one day, I can do the same for you," she said. "Sa lahat ng naniwala, sumuporta, at nagdasal para sa amin, maraming, maraming salamat po! To those who felt even the smallest impact of our kindness, thank you. You remind me that goodness still exists in the world."
Neri said she consistently reminds her children to be kind.
"Hindi mo agad-agad makikita ang balik, pero darating at darating ito sa tamang panahon. Minsan, pakiramdam natin, hindi tayo pinapansin ni Lord kasi sunod-sunod ang pagsubok. Pero minsan, He’s just busy fixing things behind the scenes," she noted. "And in every storm, He sends His Army of Angels. This time, kayo ‘yun."
She ended her post thanking her supporters and prayers. "Hindi ko ito malilimutan."
The estafa and violation of the securities regulation code complaints against Neri reportedly stemmed from her endorsement urging dozens of individuals to invest hundreds of thousands of pesos in skincare company Dermacare.
Reports about Neri's arrest began with showbiz insider Ogie Diaz talking about it on the Nov. 24 episode of his YouTube channel.
On the evening of Nov. 26, the Southern Police District (SPD) wrote a Facebook post announcing that a manhunt operation, led by the Pasay City Police in coordination with the Warrant and Subpoena Section, resulted in the arrest of a 41-year-old actress and businesswoman.
Earlier this month, all pending complaints filed against Neri have been dismissed.
Acting Presiding Judge Ronald August L. Tan said in the order obtained on Monday, March 3 that the private complainants "never alleged being defrauded by [Miranda]. More mind-boggling is that private complainants never asserted having personally transacted with or handed over money to [Miranda]. Therefore, the evidence presented indeed fails to establish that [Miranda] committed the crime of Estafa, moreso, Syndicated Estafa."
