MANILA, Philippines – Vic Sotto filed a complaint against filmmaker Darryl Yap on Thursday, January 9, over a teaser for the upcoming movie, The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma.
Sotto filed the complaint before the Office of the Prosecutor in Muntinlupa City because his name was explicitly mentioned in the short clip.
Nineteen counts of violation of Section 4 of Republic Act No. 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2022, were filed.
The video, which was posted on January 1 on VinCentiments’ Facebook page, features the character of Charito Solis asking Pepsi Paloma to confirm if it was true that Vic Sotto raped her, to which she said yes.
“A lot of people have been asking me anong reaction mo, ito na po yun (filing a complaint). ‘Eto na po ‘yung reaction ko,” Sotto told the media after filing the complaint.
“Sabi ko nga walang personalan ito. I just trust in our justice system. Ako’y laban sa irresponsableng tao, lalo na pagdating sa social media.”
(A lot of people have been asking me what’s my reaction, this is it — filing a complaint. This is my reaction. As I said, this is nothing personal. I just trust in our justice system. I’m against irresponsible people, especially on social media.)
Under one of Yap’s Facebook posts from January 6, a commenter asked him if he consulted the accused trio behind the issue before he began writing the script. It can be recalled that Paloma accused Sotto, Joey de Leon, and Ricardo “Richie D’Horsie” Reyes of rape in 1982.
“I did not. Sorry,” Yap replied.
The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma will revisit the late actress’ rape case and her subsequent death in 1985.
Yap first announced that he would be working on The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma in late December. He revealed the full cast days later, with former child actress Rhed Bustamante taking the lead role of Pepsi Paloma. Mon Confiado will be playing Dr. Rey dela Cruz, Pepsi’s talent manager; Gina Alajar as late actress Charito Solis; Shamaine Buencamino as Pepsi’s mother, Lydia Duena Whitley; Andres Balano Jr. as comedian Richie D’Horsie; and Rosanna Roces as former actress Divina Valencia.
On January 7, Yap revealed he was in contact with Paloma’s mother and brother, whose perspectives will be featured in the film.
“Sila naman ang magsasalita, sila naman ang magkukwento. PAMILYA. HIGIT SA LAHAT,” Yap said, referring to Paloma’s brother, Zaldy, and their mother, Lydia.
(They will be the ones to speak this time, they will be the ones to tell the story. Family. Above all.)
An exact premiere date for The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma has yet to be announced.
Yap is the director behind the controversial Marcos-centered Maid in Malacañang film that premiered in July 2022, a few months after Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assumed the country’s top post. – Rappler.com