Randy Lawyer denies Melanie Marquez's abuse claims; calls out harassment, defamation

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MANILA, Philippines — American businessman Adam "Randy" Lawyer denied the claims of Miss International 1979 and estranged wife Melanie Marquez that she suffered physical and emotional abuse because of him.

Melanie appeared on the January 5 episode of "Fast Talk with Boy Abunda" having approached the host last month for the opportunity to share unknown parts of her life.

In the lengthy episode, the former beauty queen recounted claims of suffering abuse at Randy's hands. The episode ended with Melanie recalling being "abducted" in order to be admitted in a mental hospital and later a rehabilitation center.

Randy categorically denied the claims hurled at him and issued a statement via email to Boy's team, which the host read on his show the following day.

The businessman is being represented by attorneys Jecko Bello, Mitzell Arthur Magdaong and Isabel Perfetua Doctolero of Pecabar Law Firm, the law office co-founded by the late Juan Ponce Enrile.

"Ms. Melanie has always engaged in ostentatiously accusing Mr. Lawyer of abuse, but all of which has been found to be baseless or unfounded by the proper forum," said the attorneys. "This is nothing but an act of harassment suffered by our client; an act of defamation on the part of Ms. Melanie."

The legal counsel pointed out that Melanie's cases never reached the courts as they were dimissed by the Office of the City Prosecutor of Makati.

They reiterated that the former beauty queen's stunt was "nothing short of malicuous harassment, designed to inflict severe reputational damage, emotional distress, and professional harm" against Randy.

The statement ended with confirmation that Randy will address the particularities of Melanie's accusations against him before the Bureau of Immigration, to whom she wrote to requesting to blacklist and cancel Randy's visa.

Boy opened the floor for Randy to appear on the show in order to air his side of the story, then continued on with the episode with guest Thea Tolentino.

Randy and Melanie have been married for 25 years, albeit recently estranged, and are parents to sons Adam and Abraham. Melanie has four other children including fellow beauty queen Michelle Dee. — Video from GMA Network's YouTube channel

RELATED: Melanie Marquez recalls 'birthday abduction' for mental hospital, rehab center stay