The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 205 has partially granted the writ of habeas data filed by television host and actor Vic Sotto against filmmaker Darryl Yap, ordering the removal of the film teaser for "The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma," which mentioned Sotto's name.
"Respondent DARRYL RAY SPYKE B. YAP and any person or entity acting on his behalf, including the production team of Vin Centiments, are ORDERED to delete, take down and remove the 26-second teaser video from online platforms, social media, or any other medium for having misused the collected data/information by presenting a conversation between two deceased individuals, which cannot be verified as having actually occurred," the court's decision read.
However, the court permitted Yap to continue with the production and eventual release of the film.
Sotto's camp responded positively to the court's ruling and urged that the teaser and other promotional materials containing Sotto's name, be promptly taken down.
The veteran host filed the complaint in response to the director’s intentional posting of several public, malicious, and defamatory statements on his Facebook pages.
In the teaser video, it showed a confrontation scene—between the actress portraying Pepsi and another actress—showing the former confirming that Sotto raped her.
Previously, Sotto lodged 19 counts of cyber libel against Yap over the controversial film.
Yap emphasized that there is no personal animosity involved and that he is simply recounting events from the past, not fabricating anything to damage someone's reputation.
