Actor-TV host Vic Sotto formally filed cyberlibel complaints against movie director Darryl Yap at the Muntinlupa Prosecutors Office on Thursday in relation to the viral trailer of the movie The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma.
Lawyer Enrique dela Cruz, Sotto’s legal counsel said the 19 counts of cyberlibel cases correspond to the 19 times the director allegedly posted on social media the malicious and defamatory imputations against his client.
The complaint includes a prayer of P20M for moral damages and P15M exemplary damages.
Atty. dela Cruz added that aside from the criminal cases filed against Yap they also filed petition for the issuance of Writ of Habeas Data for those who shared the posts.
If the petition is granted the persons being complained of shall be enjoined and ordered to delete, destroy or rectify the erroneous data or information.
They are also waiting for the movie to be released and will later decide if additional cases will be filed against the people behind it.
Sotto on his part said the filing of cases is nothing personal but he is simply against irresponsible people in the social media
“ Marami pong nagtatanong kung anong reaksyon ko noong lumabas itong isyung ito, akoy nanahimik wala naman akong sinasagot. Sa mga taong nagtatanong sa aking mga kaibigan, pamilya a lot of people have been asking me anong reaksyon mo ito na ang reaksyon ko. I’m just against irresponsible people lalo na sa social media” Sotto said.
Sotto’s wife TV host-actress Pauleen Luna who was present during the filing of cases also admitted she was affected by the issue involving her husband.
“As parents and as his wife naapektuhan po kami but of course ito ang tamang sagot sa lahat ng ito” Luna said.
On the other hand, Yap quickly reacted to the cases filed against him by defending the trailer of his upcoming movie.
“Kalayaan ng kahit sino ang magsampa ng reklamo, Walang may monopolyo sa katarungan, lalo na sa katotohanan. Malaya ang sinuman na magsampa ng reklamo, para mas maging malinaw ang totoo. dahil sa huli, Katotohanan lang ang depensasa lahat ng Katanungan.” Yap posted in his Facebook account.
The controversy started when Yap allegedly posted online a 23- second movie trailer depicting the confrontation between Charito Solis played by Gina Alajar and Pepsi Paloma played by Rhed Bustamante.
Alajar asked Bustamante’s character if indeed she was raped by Vic Sotto to which the later answered in affirmative.
The late Pepsi Paloma was a popular 80s sexy actress who allegedly committed suicide at the height of her popularity.
She was featured in several sexy films together with her fellow “softdrink beauties” Coca Nicolas and Sarsi Emmanuel.
Abner is an award-winning journalist. He received the prestigious 2015 Titus Brandsma Award for Community Communication in the Philippines and participated in the 2016 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States of America, sponsored by the US Embassy in the Philippines. Founder of WATCH NORTH COTABATO, a media-citizens’ transparency group. He worked as a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and CNN Philippines. His experience in broadcasting includes anchoring for Brigada News FM in Kidapawan and General Santos City and Brigada News TV. He anchors Tira Brigada via 105.1 Brigada News FM Manila, Mondays-Saturdays.