Lifestyle vlogger and socialite Small Laude takes to Instagram on Friday, January 3, 2025, to share a legal statement addressing allegations circulating online that involve her husband, businessman Philip Laude.
The post, uploaded on her verified account and captioned “The Truth [balance scale emoji],” featured a formal statement issued by law firm DivinaLaw.
The statement categorically denies any insinuation that Philip has been involved in illegal activity, whether individually or in collaboration with others.
It emphasizes that Philip is a private businessman with a long-standing record of lawful and legitimate enterprise.
It further asserts that he has never engaged in, benefited from, or facilitated any illegal transaction, scheme, or activity, whether directly or indirectly.
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Addressing Philip's alleged link to proposed venture
Central to the clarification is the denial of claims suggesting the existence of a corporation or formal business partnership involving Philip and Edvic Yap, who later assumed public office.
According to the statement, no corporation was ever formed between the two.
It explains that prior to Yap’s election, he merely invited Philip to consider investing in a proposed joint venture. The discussions that followed were described as preliminary and exploratory in nature and did not mature into any formal partnership, corporation, or other juridical entity.
DivinaLaw noted that during this exploratory phase, a bank account was opened.
The firm clarified that this took place at a time when Yap was still a private individual and before he was elected as a congressman.
The opening of the account, the statement stressed, was lawful and undertaken solely in contemplation of a potential private business venture.
However, the law firm conveyed that the proposed joint venture was never implemented.
No business operations were commenced, and no government-related project, procurement, or transaction was ever pursued or undertaken in connection with the discussion.
The statement further explained that following Yap’s election to public office, the contemplated venture did not proceed, and that the bank account associated with the exploratory phase was subsequently closed.
According to DivinaLaw, this step was taken “precisely to avoid any issue, misinterpretation, or appearance of impropriety.”
Attempts to link Philip to alleged irregularities or controversies involving public officeholders were described by the firm as “factually baseless and misleading.”
The statement underscored that a mere invitation to invest, as well as preparatory steps taken before any individual assumes public office, do not amount to wrongdoing, illegality, or impropriety.
The document concludes by stating that Philip Laude reserves all his rights under the law, while also affirming his continued commitment to transparency, lawful business practices, and the protection of his good name and reputation.
Small herself did not add further commentary to the post beyond sharing the statement.
At this writing, neither Philip Laude nor Edvic Yap has issued a separate public statement beyond what was contained in the legal document shared on Small Laude’s account.
Read: Meet married business moguls Small and Philip Laude
FULL LEGAL STATEMENT FROM DIVINALAW
We categorically and unequivocally deny any insinuation that Philip Laude has ever been involved in any illegal activity, whether by himself or in collaboration with any other person.
Mr. Laude is a private businessman with a long-standing record of lawful and legitimate enterprise. At no time has he engaged in, participated in, benefited from, or facilitated any illegal transaction, scheme, or activity-directly or indirectly.
It must be clearly emphasized that no corporation was ever formed involving Mr. Laude and Edvic Yap. Prior to Mr. Yap's election to public office, Mr. Yap merely invited Mr. Laude to consider investing in a proposed joint venture.
That discussion was preliminary and exploratory and never ripened into a formal partnership, corporation, or other juridical entity.
In connection with this proposed joint venture, a bank account was opened at a time when Mr. Yap was still a private individual, well before his election as congressman. The opening of the account was lawful and undertaken solely in contemplation of a potential private business venture.
However, the joint venture was never implemented, no business operations were commenced, and no government project, procurement, or transaction was ever pursued or undertaken. Upon Mr. Yap's election to public office, the contemplated venture did not proceed, and the bank account was closed, precisely to avoid any issue, misinterpretation, or appearance of impropriety.
Any attempt to link Mr. Laude to alleged irregularities or controversies involving public officeholders is therefore factually baseless and misleading. A mere invitation to invest —and preparatory steps taken before any individual assumed public office—do not constitute wrongdoing, illegality, or impropriety.
Mr. Laude reserves all his rights under the law. He remains fully committed to transparency, lawful business practices, and the protection of his good name and reputation.
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