Director Darryl Yap announced that his controversial “Pepsi Paloma” film will not be released in Philippine cinemas on Feb. 5 after he failed to complete the legal requirements needed by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) for review.
“Ipinaaabot ko po sa lahat ng nakasubaybay na bigo po ang panig ng inyong lingkod na agarang makumpleto ang mga dokumentong hinihingi ng pamunuan ng MTRCB. Kaya't imposible pong maipalabas sa mga sinehan ang ating Pelikula sa February 5. (I would like to inform all those who have been following that I have failed to immediately complete the documents requested by the MTRCB leadership. Therefore, it is impossible for our film to be released in theaters on February 5.),” Yap posted on Facebook on Feb. 3.

Rhed Bustamante as Pepsi Paloma (Photo from Darryl Yap's Facebook account)

Director Darryl Yap (Photo from Darryl Yap's Facebook account)

Director Darryl Yap's announcement (Photo from Darryl Yap's Facebook account)
Yap said he is considering to release it abroad and streaming platforms, and postpone its release in the Philippines altogether.
“Pinag-iisipan na rin ang posibilidad na maunang maipalabas ito sa labas ng bansa o ipagpaliban na ang pagpapalabas sa sinehan at magpokus na lamang sa streaming platforms. Kung anu't anuman ay agad itong malalaman ng publiko (We are also considering the possibility of releasing it abroad first or postponing the theatrical release altogether and focusing only on streaming platforms. In any case, the public will know immediately),” he added.
In a comment, he added, “Puno na rin kasi ang February at March, pero makakahanap lang kami ng available screening dates once ok na ang hinihinging karagdagang documents. (February and March are already full, but we will only be able to find available screening dates once the additional documents requested are OK).”
The MTRCB asked the film distributor, PinoyFlix Films and Entertainment Production, to get clearance from the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court, Department of Justice, and Office of the City Prosecutor in Muntinlupa before the film is reviewed.
“To set the record straight, the MTRCB Registration Unit could not accept the materials submitted by the representative of Pinoyflix because the Legal Affairs Division required the distributor to provide three specific requirements such as Certificate or Clearance of No Pending Criminal, Civil, or Administrative Case from the Regional Trial Court, the Department of Justice, and the Office of the City Prosecutor,” the MTRCB said.



MTRCB's press statement and letter to the distributor of the "Pepsi Paloma" film (MTRCB, Darryl Yap's Facebook account)
MTRCB explained that the legal requirement being asked from the distributor “is to ensure that there will be no violation of the P.D. 1986 and its Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR). The MTRCB is composed of 30 Board Members, the Vice Chairperson and the Chairperson.”
“All applications are reviewed by a committee comprising three board members and a second review committee, composed of five members, if warranted. Each film undergoes a rigorous and meticulous review process that evaluates every detail against the standards set by Presidential Decree No. 1986,” it said.