VIC SOTTO FILES CYBER LIBEL RAPS VS FILMMAKER DARRYL YAP

VETERAN television host-actor and comedian Vic Sotto on Thursday filed 19 counts of cyber libel against Darryl Yap, the filmmaker of the upcoming controversial movie “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma.”

Sotto, accompanied by his wife, actress and TV host Pauleen Luna, and legal counsel Enrique dela Cruz, filed the complaint at the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court.

The actor-comedian filed the lawsuit following the release of a teaser for Yap’s upcoming movie.

A total of 19 counts of violation of Section 4 of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2022 were filed against Yap.

The complaint also seeks P35 million in moral and exemplary damages.

“Many have been asking for my reaction since this issue came up. I have kept my silence. I have not answered questions. I guess this is it. This is my reaction,” Sotto told reporters outside the courthouse.

He said the decision to file charges was a matter of principle.

“This is not some personal vendetta. I just trust in the justice system. I will fight irresponsible people, especially those on social media,” he  added.

Sotto is also seeking to remove promotional materials and information linking him to the film.

The petition, raffled to Branch 205 under Presiding Judge Liezel Aquiatan, was granted on January 9.

The court found Sotto’s petition sufficient in form and substance and issued the writ of habeas data.

On Jan. 1, 2025, Yap posted a teaser poster and trailer for the film on his social media account, featuring the cast.

In the teaser, young actress Rhed Bustamante, who plays Delia Dueñas Smith  also known as Pepsi Paloma, and Gina Alajar, portraying Charito Solis, are seen in an emotional conversation.

In the scene, Solis asks Paloma if she was raped by Vic Sotto, to which the response was in the affirmative.

Sotto said Yap’s promotional materials violated his privacy rights and subjected him and his family to threats.

According to Sotto’s  lawyer, the release of the materials has led to the actor’s family receiving online threats of assault, particularly his minor daughter and wife Pauleen.

The lawyer further emphasized that the rape allegations against Sotto 42 years ago were false and that the case filed by Paloma in 1982 had been dismissed.

Sotto alleged that Yap deliberately omitted the case’s dismissal in promotional content, misleading the public.

In a statement, Yap said he will respond to the complaint as soon as it reaches him.

Paloma became popular in showbiz during the early ’80s. She was known for films such as “Brown Emanuelle” (1981), “The Victim” (1982), “Krus sa Bawat Punglo” (1982), “Virgin People” (1983), “Snake Sisters” (1983), “Naked Island” (1984), “Matukso kaya ang Anghel?” (1984) and “Room 69 (1985).”

She was then involved in a highly-publicized scandal when she accused comedians Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, and Ricardo “Richie D’Horsie” Reyes of rape.

According to Paloma’s account, she and fellow actress Guada Guarin were drugged, brought to a room at a hotel in Quezon City, and then raped.

The three suspects denied Paloma’s accusations.

Meanwhile, the court scheduled a summary hearing on the lawsuit on January 15.