Director Darryl Yap defended the teaser video of his upcoming film “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma” after TV host and actor Vic Sotto filed a cyber libel complaint against him.
Sotto’s name was mentioned in the movie trailer, which became the basis for the 19 counts of cyber libel that he filed against Yap with the Muntinlupa Prosecutor’s Office on Jan. 9.
“I am executing this Complaint-Affidavit to charge respondent Darryl Ray Spyke B. Yap (‘Yap’) with nineteen (19) counts of Cyber Libel, consisting of multiple violations of Section 4(c)(4) of Republic-Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 in relation to Articles 353 and 355 of the Revised Penal Code, for willfully and deliberately posting several public, malicious and defamatory statements in respondent Yap's Facebook pages tending to cause dishonor and damage to my reputation,” Sotto stated in his complaint-affidavit.
Vic Sotto (left) and Darryl Yap (Jonathan Hicap, Darryl Yap's Facebook account)
The posters for Darryl Yap's upcoming film “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma” (Darryl Yap's Facebook account)
Darryl Yap (center) with Pepsi Paloma's mother Lydia and brother Zaldy (Darryl Yap's Facebook account)
After the complaint was filed, Sotto’s lawyer, Enrique Dela Cruz Jr., defended his client against the teaser video.
“42 years ago pa natapos. Lilinawin ko lang po ah: wala po rape. Hindi po totoong rapist ang aming kliyente. Hindi ho totoo itong rape na ito. Gawa-gawa lang po itong kwento na ito,” he told the media outside the Muntinlupa City Hall of Justice.
Dela Cruz was referring to the year 1982 when Paloma (real name Delia Duenas Smith) she accused Sotto and two others of rape. She reportedly signed an affidavit of desistance later. Paloma passed away in 1985.
In a Facebook post on Jan. 9, Yap defended the teaser video for his Pepsi Paloma film.
“Napakalinaw. Napakalinaw naman ng teaser, maging ng caption nito. Nagsampa, Inurong, Lumaban, Bumawi. BAKIT? at sino bang nagsabi na ang tinutukoy ng title ng pelikula kong #TROPP #TROPP2025 The Rapists of #PepsiPaloma ay ang kliyente mo? Kayo lang,” Yap wrote, referring to Dela Cruz’s media interview.
The film stars Rhed Bustamante as Paloma, Gina Alajar as actress Charito Solis, Mon Confiado as Paloma’s manager Rey Dela Cruz, Rosanna Roces as Divina Valencia, Andres Balano Jr. as Richie D'Horsie and Shamaine Buencamino as Lydia Duena Whitley, Paloma’s mother.
Vic Sotto, with his wife Pauleen and legal team, at the Muntinlupa Prosecutor's Office on Jan. 9 (Photos from Divina Law)
In the complaint-affidavit he filed before the prosecutor’s office, Sotto stated that "despite having knowledge that the criminal case filed by Pepsi Paloma against me was dismissed, respondent framed the teaser video in a way that it explicitly identified me as the supposed rapist of Pepsi Paloma."
In the film trailer released on Jan. 1, Solis (Alajar) asked Paloma (Bustamante), "Ipaliwanag mo sa akin! Magsabi ka sa akin! Ipaliwanag mo... Dahil hindi ko naiintindihan! Pepsi sumagot ka! Ni-rape ka ba ni Vic Sotto? (Explain to me! Tell me! Explain... Because I don't understand! Pepsi, answer me! Did Vic Sotto rape you?).”
Paloma shouted, "Oo! (Yes!)."
The Facebook post of the film trailer carried the description, “LABAN O BAWI. Teaser 1 Inakusahan ng Rape ni Pepsi Paloma si Vic Sotto atbp; subalit makalipas ang ilang kaganapan ay inurong nito ang demanda. Bakit? Abangan si Rhed Bustamante bilang PEPSI PALOMA. THE RAPISTS OF PEPSI PALOMA. CINEMAS 2025. #TROPP #TROPP2025”
Sotto also stated in his complaint-affidavit, “Due to the malicious and defamatory posts made by respondents, I have been subjected and continue to be subjected to public ridicule and contempt. The social humiliation have caused me to suffer mental anguish and serious anxiety due to my tarnished reputation and destroyed credibility.”
Sotto is asking for moral damages of at least P20 million and exemplary damages of at least P15 million from Yap.
Vic Sotto's complaint-affidavit that he signed and filed on Jan. 9 with the Muntinlupa Prosecutor's Office (Jonathan Hicap)