Marvic “Vic” Sotto, a notable comedian and television host, has initiated a P35 million lawsuit against director Darryl Yap, accusing him of cyberlibel. The lawsuit involves 19 counts, following a film teaser that implicates Sotto in the alleged rape of 1980s starlet Pepsi Paloma. The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court has already granted a petition to halt the promotion of Yap’s upcoming biopic, “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma.”
This legal action concerns posts made by Yap on social media platforms, suggesting Sotto’s involvement in the crime. Sotto, through his lawyer Enrique dela Cruz, claims these posts have resulted in public backlash and harm to his family. Sotto seeks P20 million in moral damages and an additional P15 million for exemplary damages, asserting that he was defamed and his privacy violated.
The controversial teaser, shared multiple times on Yap’s social media and his company Vincentiments’ platforms, supposedly names Sotto as one of Paloma’s alleged rapists. In his complaint, Sotto highlights the defamatory nature of these posts, citing the public’s negative reactions and unfounded allegations against his family as evidence of the damage caused.
In response to these accusations, Sotto has filed for a writ of habeas data, asserting a violation of his privacy rights. This legal measure seeks to remove all promotional materials depicting him negatively. The presiding judge has ruled the petition as valid, requiring Yap to respond within five days and to detail the usage and purpose of the data involved.
Despite the court’s takedown order, Yap continues to promote the film and express his intent to proceed with its release, maintaining that truth is subjective and open to interpretation. The film, which portrays Paloma’s life and the 1982 scandal, features scenes that suggest Sotto’s involvement. However, statements from individuals like Coca Nicolas, a close friend of Paloma, contest these claims, attributing them to publicity tactics by Paloma’s former manager.