Director Darryl Yap lauded a Muntinlupa court decision allowing his controversial film “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma” to be shown in Philippine cinemas. 

“The respondent [Yap], however, is allowed to proceed with the production and eventual release of the film ‘The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma,’” the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 205 ruled on the petition for writ of habeas data filed by TV host and actor Vic Sotto. 

The decision dated Jan. 24 ordered Yap to delete and remove the teaser video for the film that mentioned Sotto’s name but gave the director the permission to release the movie in the country. 

Director Darryl Yap (left) and Rhed Bustamante as Pepsi Paloma (Photos from Darryl Yap's Facebook account)

“Hindi pa rin po ako maaaring magbigay ng tuwirang pahayag sa usaping legal ngunit nais ko pong ipaabot ang aking pasasalamat sa mga nagpapahayag ng kanilang suporta at nananalangin para sa kapakanan ng pelikula (“I still can’t give a direct statement on the legal matter but I would like to express my gratitude to those who have expressed their support and prayed for the welfare of the film),” Yap posted on Facebook on Jan. 27. 

He added, “Dahil po sa inyong dasal at pagsubaybay, itinuturing po naming mahalagang balita ang pagkakaroon natin ng legal na pahintulot upang maipalabas ang ating pelikula. (Because of your prayers and monitoring, we consider it important news that we have legal permission to release our film).” 

Yap said he will now submit the film for review to the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB). 

“Next step naman po namin ay magpareview sa MTRCB, susunod po tayo sa mga pamantayan kahit gaano ito kabusisi. Maghintay lamang po tayo (Our next step is to review with the MTRCB, we will follow the standards no matter how strict they are. Let’s just wait),” he said. 

The MTRCB is headed by Chairperson Lala Sotto-Antonio, the daughter of former senator Tito Sotto. 

Yap revealed that he is also planning to release the Pepsi Paloma film on streaming platforms. 

“Sa mga kababayan ko sa abroad na nagnanais na bilhin at ipalabas ang #TROPP sa USA, JAPAN, HK, EUROPE atbp., yan po ay sekondarya lamang sa aming isip sa ngayon, sapagkat prayoridad po ang pagpapalabas sa Pilipinas at sa mga kausap nang streaming platform, gayunpaman, Maraming Salamat po sa pagpapahalaga, darating din po tayo dyan. (To my countrymen abroad who want to buy and release #TROPP in the USA, JAPAN, HK, EUROPE etc., that is only secondary in our minds right now, because the priority is to release it in the Philippines and on the streaming platforms we are talking to, however, thank you very much for your appreciation, we will get there too),” added Yap. 

“The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma,” set to be released in Philippine cinemas on Feb. 5, stars Rhed Bustamante as Pepsi Paloma, Gina Alajar as Solis, Mon Confiado as Paloma’s manager Rey Dela Cruz, Rosanna Roces as Divina Valencia, Andres Balano Jr. as Richie D'Horsie, Shamaine Buencamino as Lydia Duena Whitley, Paloma’s mother, Jun Nayra as Paloma’s lawyer Renato Cayetano, and Beverly Salviejo as talent scout Monica, a talent scout.

In addition to the petition for writ of habeas data, Vic Sotto filed a P35-million cyber libel complaint against Yap because of the teaser video before the Muntinlupa Prosecutor’s Office.