Sotto, Yap attend first court hearing over controversial 'Pepsi Paloma' film
Vic Sotto and Darryl Yap have faced each other in court for the first time amid their legal battle over the latter's upcoming film, The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma.
The two appeared before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 205 to address Sotto's petition for a writ of habeas data to remove all promotional materials, teaser videos, and other content related to Yap's film that mention his personal information.
Sotto, accompanied by his wife Pauleen Luna, also requested a court order prohibiting Yap from further publishing any such materials on any platform.
The petition was on top of the 19 counts of cyber libel that Sotto had filed against the controversial director after his name was mentioned in the film's teaser.
While Yap countered the petition by filing an urgent motion for the issuance of a gag order, the court has prohibited both parties from publicly discussing the case proceedings and other related matters.
When the two left the courthouse, they refused to make any comments when approached by reporters, with Sotto saying, "I am not allowed to speak."
Meanwhile, Yap's motion to consolidate the habeas data petition with the cyber libel cases was denied by the court.
Despite the lawsuit, Yap confirmed that film production will continue, stating that he is "okay" and is "still finishing the movie."
When asked if the public can see the film, he answered, "They should."
Sotto filed a lawsuit against Yap after the release of a controversial teaser for The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma. The teaser, which aired on Yap's online platform Vincentments on Jan. 1, featured a scene where Charito Solis (Gina Alajar) directly accuses Sotto of rape. The trailer then concludes by stating that Pepsi Paloma filed a rape case against Sotto in 1982.
Meanwhile, the film is set to open in cinemas this year. Aside from Bustamante as Pepsi and Alajar as Charito, it will also star Shamaine Buencamino as Pepsi's mother Lydia Duena Whitley, Mon Confiado as Pepsi's talent manager Dr. Rey Dela Cruz, and Andres Balano Jr. as comedian Richie D'Horsie. (with reports from Mark Ernest Villeza)
