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First Yaya star Kakai Bautista officially breaks her silence after the management of Thai actor Mario Maurer warned that “legal action” will be taken if she continues to mention the actor publicly.

In the statement released by Artist Gallery Management, it said that the demand letter “does not bear any letterhead, mailing address, and contact number” of Mario Maurer's agency.

Therefore, it “does not show any proof” that the letter was authorized by the popular Thai actor nor his agency, Kwaonhar Nine Nine Co., Ltd.

Nonetheless, Kakai's legal counsel, Jude Marfil, confirmed that they already sent a nine-page reply to Koraphot Jirachocksubin, who identified himself as the attorney of Mario's management.

“We firmly and vehemently repudiate and detest in the strongest possible terms the claims of the 'Authorized Attorney' [Koraphot Jirachocksubin] of Mr. Maurer's agency against our Client [Kakai]. They are palpably without any factual and legal bases.

“Further, his claim that our client 'improperly exploited' and made 'false statements' about Mr. Mario Maurer and his team already reek of libel, a crime punishable under Art 353 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines.”

Additionally, Jude said that the private letter severely “tarnished the reputation” of Kakai, making her appear as “deceitful, lying, and exploitative” in the eyes of the media.

The statement emphasizes that any experience, connection, and communication with Mario and Kakai are based on “truthful occurrences without any malice or bad faith.”

“That is, a simple and truthful recollection of her personal experience in working with an international public figure such as Mr. Mario Maurer, whom she has so cherished and has held with high regard and respect,” it added.

That being said, Kakai is free to talk about her experience with him in the absence of a non-disclosure agreement.

“Accordingly, for as long as the statements of our Client are based on truth and that she has not signed any non-disclosure agreement with Mr. Maurer and/or his agency, Ms. Bautista is very much free, under our legal system, to publicly talk about her experiences with Mr. Maurer, who is an international figure,” Jude said.

Nonetheless, Kakai has decided to “totally dissociate herself” from Mario through all means and channels possible and that they are demanding a proof of his identity in the Cease and Demand Letter that was sent beforehand.

Read the full statement below:

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Last week, the comedienne dubbed as “Dental Diva” allegedly received a letter from the team of Mario Maurer demanding her to stop spreading “false and untrue” claims about her closeness with the Thai actor.

It said, “Upon consultation with our client, we would like to confirm that all statements and claims made by Catherine 'Kakai' Bautista regarding her claims of proximity to Mario Maurer are hereby DENIED as false and untrue.”

The letter wrote how Kakai was “improperly exploiting” the name of the Lakon star and his manager, and may be violating existing laws of the Republic of the Philippines and the Kingdom of Thailand.

Should she not follow the demands, Mario's agency is said to make “formal claims” against Kakai to protect the actor.

The two previously worked in a 2012 film titled Suddenly Its Magic.

Though they parted ways, Kakai continued to describe Mario as “kind” and “authentic.”

She said in a post back in September 2020, “He was good to me until the end. I've seen so much of him that other people have never seen (siguro). I am forever grateful.

“Ang sarap ng feeling na kapag naalala kita, puro masaya lang nagpa-flashback sa utak ko. Salamat sa pagdaan sa buhay ko.”

Get to know Thai actor Mario Maurer in this gallery: