MANILA, Philippines– Director Darryl Yap’s film about Pepsi Paloma, The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma, is facing delays after the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) clarified that the project is not yet under review.
The MTRCB announced on January 29 that the film’s submitted materials were incomplete, meaning the review process has not begun.
The MTRCB explained that filmmakers must meet all submission requirements before the review process can proceed.
Yap’s film, which aims to depict the controversial life story of Pepsi Paloma, has generated public attention, particularly due to its sensitive subject matter.
Paloma’s story involves allegations against prominent entertainment figures in the 1980s.
Earlier in January, Yap released a teaser for the film, which led to legal actions, including a cyber libel writ filed by television host Vic Sotto.
Sotto sought the removal of the teaser from social media platforms, and a court ordered its deletion.
Yap has since expressed concerns about the situation on social media, suggesting that he may reconsider the project’s direction due to the ongoing challenges.
In addition to the MTRCB’s review delay, the film has faced legal hurdles, including the court’s order to delete promotional materials containing Sotto’s name.
Yap has said he intends to comply with the court’s ruling and submit the necessary documents to the MTRCB to allow the review process to begin.
