A MUNTINLUPA court has ordered film director Darryl Yap to take down the teaser of his film “The Rapist of Pepsi Paloma” where the name of renowned actor and television host Vic Sotto was mentioned.
In a decision issued on January 24, 2025, the court partially granted the petition filed by Sotto for writ of habeas, a remedy provided to any individual whose right to privacy in life, liberty or security is threatened or violated.
It did not divulge the reasons for ordering the takedown of the teaser as this might “diminish the excitement of moviegoers and risk revealing key aspects of the film.”
The court noted the misuse of the collected data or information by presenting a conversation between two deceased individuals, which cannot be verified as having actually occurred.
However, the court allowed Yap to proceed with the production and eventual release of the film, noting that it is based “on the life story of Pepsi Paloma where the respondent secured the consent of the mother and brother, derived from public records like newspaper clippings, footage and is protected by artistic freedom and public interest.”
Earlier, Sotto filed 19 counts of cyber libel against Yap after his name was mentioned in what they tagged as a "malicious" teaser of a movie entitled "The Rapist of Pepsi Paloma."
In the film teaser shared by Yap on his social media accounts, featuring the late actress Pepsi Paloma, the actress portraying her answered in the affirmative when asked if she was raped by Sotto. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)