By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Mel Robles has filed charges of defamation, defamation per se, and false light invasion of privacy against vlogger Claire Contreras alias “Maharlika” before the Central District Court of California.
In a press conference in Tipsy Pig Gastropub on Sunday (Aug. 4), Robles said that he and his wife Sherwil have decided to file the charges to defend the honor, name, reputation and dignity of their family, and “stop the suspect from continuously harassing and maligning them through her online vlog”.
Robles stressed that in filing the complaint, he was guided by the virtues and lessons taught to him by his father on the importance of defending his honor and reputation.
“Ang sabi ng tatay ko, hindi na baleng mawala ang yaman, huwag lang ang ngalan,” he said.
The suspect is dubbed the “queen of fake news” by tens of thousands of responsible social media users mainly because of her sustained yet unfounded criticisms of the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. and his officials in her program.
In the complaint, the Robleses narrated that for almost a year now, they have been subjected by the suspect to an almost daily barrage of vicious, unjustifiable, and blatantly false attacks through her YouTube Channel called Boldyak TV.
“For reasons unknown to us, she continues to deliberately spread malicious lies against us, while also calling me various names that were meant to deride, and denigrate my reputation,” Robles said.
He added that not content with calling him names, the suspect has also made several absolutely untrue and outlandish accusations against him such as stealing money from the people, contract killing and even assisting terrorists.
Robles confessed that they tried to keep their peace for the longest time, knowing fully well that all her accusations were nothing but sheer lies and fabrications, that were the products of her vile imagination and hateful heart.
But they ultimately decided to seek redress from the court when they realized that the suspect had no plans of stopping her unfounded assaults on their persons.
He was especially concerned when the suspect even included in her malicious and unfounded allegations, his wife and even one of their minor children.
“We are law-abiding citizens who did nothing to harm her in any way. It is our right therefore to defend our names and reputations, especially my wife, who is a private citizen and has dedicated herself to raising our family and in supporting charitable causes,” Robles said.
Robles recalled that it was Christmas break last December that he allegedly went to the suspect’s abode and have her killed.
“In the United States, only the State can file a case,” he noted.
“Among other things, she (suspect) published pictures with my son in her program ,” Robles said.
“There are limits in everything,” he said.
“We have to respond with the correct response,” Robles said.
“I don’t know her and she doesn’t know me and she is maligning everything connected with the Marcos administration. I don’t know her mind,” he added.
Robles stressed that the PCSO has helped 300,000 people last year and it’s only that easy for her to accuse me of killing people.
“These are all allegations without basis or an iota of proof and it’s not right for me to provide the proof to her,” Robles said.
“For one, my wife has stopped her Facebook account,” he added.
“I have never been connvicted in any court of law,” Robles said on the allegation of Maharlika that he is corrupt.
It was alleged that from US1 billion which decreased to US$10 million was raised for the head of the suspect.
To recall, it was not the first time that the suspect has been sued by individuals whom she accused of various unfounded allegations apparently to entice more viewers to follow her vlog.
Puey Quiñones, a Filipino international fashion designer, previously filed defamation and US$2-million damage suit against the suspect after she defamed him and ruined his reputation in the international fashion industry.
Quinones who is based in the United States said the suspect accused him and First Lady Marie Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos of conning other people by producing counterfeit designs.
“I don’t understand why she involved the First Lady. Where (her) hate is coming from. Why is she bad mouthing the First Couple,” Quiñones said, pointing out that he did not even know, met, and befriended the suspect whom he described as “attack dog vlogger”.
“Before the vlog, (my) business is doing well. I have (fashion) shows in the Palace, US institutions,” Quiñones recalled, adding that, after Maharlika hit him and the First Lady, “projects were cancelled, proposals were rejected, and it affected the factory he put up in the Philippines.
Aside from Robles and Quinones, broadcaster Anthony “Ka Tunying” Taberna also filed a cyber libel case against the suspect last year.
Taberna filed the charges against her after she accused him of tax evasion while also maligning his sick daughter Zoey.
The broadcaster previously said that an arrest warrant was already issued by the Pampanga Regional Trial Court against the suspect.
