Director Darryl Yap has requested the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) to consolidate the cases filed against him by actor and host Vic Sotto concerning the teaser for his controversial film, The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma.
Petition for Consolidation
Yap’s camp filed a motion before Muntinlupa RTC Branch 205 to merge the petition for a writ of habeas data with the 19 counts of cyberlibel Sotto filed at the Office of the Prosecutor (OCP) in Muntinlupa.
The motion argued that both cases involve “the same parties, screenshots, and subject matter,” and thus, consolidation is necessary to streamline the proceedings. Yap’s camp also requested the cancellation of the January 15 hearing for the writ of habeas data.
Sotto’s Petition and Allegations
Vic Sotto’s petition seeks the removal of promotional materials, including the teaser video, that mention his personal information and accuse him of rape. The petition also aims to stop Yap from further disseminating content related to the film across all platforms.
Sotto claims he was not consulted about the production of the movie, a point contested by Yap’s camp. Yap’s lawyer, Atty. Raymond Fortun, maintained that the director had sent Sotto a copy of the script prior to the teaser’s release to solicit his comments.
Controversy Over the Film
The teaser for The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma, released on January 1, sparked controversy for mentioning Sotto’s name and connecting him to serious allegations. The movie references Pepsi Paloma, a teenage actress whose death in the 1980s remains shrouded in mystery and controversy.
Yap’s legal team argues that consolidating the cases will allow for a more efficient resolution of the legal issues raised by Sotto.