Director Darryl Yap announced the completion of his controversial film “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma” and it is being prepared for review.
“We have finished the film tonight. It will be ready for review,” Yap posted on Facebook on Jan. 22.
Under the law, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) is mandated to “regulate and classify motion pictures, television programs, and publicity materials.”
The MTRCB is headed by Chairperson Lala Sotto-Antonio, the daughter of former senator Tito Sotto.
The official poster for the film "The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma" (Photo from Darryl Yap's Facebook account)
Director Darryl Yap (Photo from Darryl Yap's Facebook account)
Yap revealed that he finished the film, scheduled to be shown nationwide on Feb. 5, despite difficulties including the pullout of distributors and revocation of permissions for the use of songs, and complaints.
“Bagamat naging masalimuot ang paggawa ng pelikula—kasama na ang pagpull-out ng mga distributors, pagbawi ng permiso para sa mga awit na gagamitin, pagharap sa mga reklamo at marami pang-iba. Natapos namin,” he wrote.
He added, “Maraming Salamat sa mga musikerong tumulong upang magkaroon ng All-Original Soundtrack ang #TROPP—hindi ko ito makakalimutan sa mga patuloy na nagpapahayag ng suporta at paniniwala—nakaukit na ito sa aming puso.”
“Maaaring kulang sa pera at koneksyon—pero hindi kami kapos sa tapang at paninindigan. Malapit nang mapanood ng Pilipino ang Hubad na Katotohanan. #TROPP2025 The Rapists of #PepsiPaloma,” he added.
TV host and actor Vic Sotto filed a P35 million cyber libel complaint against Yap with the Muntinlupa Prosecutor’s Office on Jan. 9 after his name was mentioned in the teaser video for “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma.”
In addition, Sotto also filed a petition for writ of habeas data against Yap with the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 205, seeking to remove the teaser video and promotional materials that mentioned his name.
Paloma was an actress in the 1980s. She passed away in 1985.