Claire Contreras (aka Maharlika) Anti-SLAPP Motion Against Avel Bacudio

I represent Claire Contreras (aka Maharlika) who is a Filipino-American video blogger in Southern California and outspoken critic of the current administration of Philippines President Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos, Jr. She has been sued for defamation by a Filipino designer with close ties to the Marcos family and today we filed a motion under California’s Anti-SLAPP law to dismiss the claims. The anti-SLAPP law is designed to protect people from “Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation”.

I normally do not post motions of pending cases, but because this was such an undertaking and because of the seriousness of the situation in the Philippines where the current President is trying to whitewash the abuses of his father’s reign and where journalists are being jailed and killed, I wanted to share it so that people might gain an understanding of what is happening there.

While this is an important issue, on a personal level it was a thrill to work with some lawyers whom I have great respect for – Marc Randazza, Karl Kronenberger, and Leah Vulic. I am grateful for their assistance on this matter.

The hearing on this matter will be in late June.