Darryl Yap Responds to Vic Sotto’s Cyber Libel Complaint
DARRYL YAP – The filmmaker has pleaded not guilty to cyber libel charges filed against him by actor-host Vic Sotto. The plea was made during a court hearing at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 203 on Tuesday, June 3. According to Yap’s lawyer, Atty. Raymond Fortun, the next hearing is set for August 19.
The case is based on a controversial teaser for Yap’s upcoming film The Rap*sts of Pepsi Paloma, released on January 1. In the scene, actress Gina Alajar, playing the late Charito Solis, asks a character playing Pepsi Paloma if she was rap*d by Vic Sotto. The character responds, “Yes.”
This part of the teaser sparked public criticism, leading Sotto to take legal action. He said the film made it seem like he was guilty of a crime he was never convicted of, damaging his reputation. The Muntinlupa City Prosecutor’s Office agreed, saying there was enough reason to charge Yap for libel under the Cybercrime Law.
According to the prosecutor, the teaser was posted on Yap’s personal Facebook and his content platform VinCentiments, which caused a flood of negative reactions online. Many netizens left angry and hateful comments directed at Sotto.
The court set bail at ₱10,000 per charge, which Yap has already posted. However, a separate complaint about another post from December 31, 2024, was dismissed.
The film touches on the real-life story of Pepsi Paloma, a young actress in the 1980s who accused three celebrities—including Sotto—of rap*. The case was later dropped after a settlement.
Now, Yap is under fire for how his film tackles this sensitive topic. The issue has raised questions about how far filmmakers can go in telling real stories, and whether creative freedom should be balanced with respect for the truth and the people involved.