Director Darryl Yap’s camp clarified on Friday that the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court has not ordered the removal of the teaser or other promotional materials for his film, “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma.”
Attorney Raymond Fortun, Yap’s legal counsel, stated that while the court issued a writ of habeas data, it did not include a directive to stop posting or sharing content related to the film. The court instead instructed Yap to submit a verified return on the writ within five days of its receipt.
Fortun also requested the court to issue a gag order, asking actor Vic Sotto and his team to refrain from publicly disclosing details about the proceedings and to keep the case confidential.
Background on the Case
The legal actions stem from Vic Sotto’s petition against Yap following his mention in the teaser for the film. Sotto’s legal team has asked the court to compel Yap to take down all promotional materials and refrain from disseminating any further content related to the movie across all platforms.
Sotto’s lawyer, Attorney Enrique Dela Cruz, affirmed on Thursday that the issuance of the writ directs Yap to pause posting and sharing related materials until the matter is resolved.
Court Developments
Attorney Dela Cruz explained that the writ means Yap must account for his actions regarding the materials after receiving the court’s directive. A summary hearing for the petition is set for January 15.
Separately, Vic Sotto has also filed 19 counts of cyberlibel against Yap.