Screen grab from “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma” movie trailer. Photo: Darryl Yap/Facebook 

MANILA, Philippines – Was she, really? Did he, really? 

The story of controversial ‘80s sexy star Pepsi Paloma did not die with her. Forty years after her death, a movie boldly tells her story. 

She was allegedly drugged, raped, not by one but three famous men. Unable to weather the tragedy, she subsequently committed suicide. 

This was the story the public was made to know through the decades and the movie fearlessly told it. 

One of the alleged rapists of Paloma was comedian Vic Sotto and him being outrightly named made the trailer explode on the internet on the first day of 2025.

The trailer 

The movie, aptly titled “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma” had its trailer released on January 1, 2025 by controversial director Darryl Yap on social media. 

The scene featured a confrontation between veteran actress Charito Solis played by award-winning actress Gina Alajar and Paloma played by young actress Rhed Bustamante. 

Solis, heated and confused, asked Paloma, “Ipaliwanag mo sa akin, magsabi ka sa akin, ipaliwanag mo dahil hindi ko naiintindihan! Pepsi, sumagot ka! Ni-rape ka ba ni Vic Sotto?” 

Screen grab from “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma” trailer. Darryl Yap/Facebook 

Screen grab from “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma” trailer. Darryl Yap/Facebook 

Distraught and equally outraged, Paloma answered a long and loud “oo!” 

The trailer was completed with a somewhat teasing caption: 

“LABAN O BAWI”

“Teaser 1”

“Inakusahan ng Rape ni Pepsi Paloma si Vic Sotto atbp; subalit makalipas ang ilang kaganapan ay inurong nito ang demanda.”

“Bakit?”

“Abangan si Rhed Bustamante bilang PEPSI PALOMA”

Screen grab from “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma” trailer. Darryl Yap/Facebook 

Paloma and Solis worked together when they co-starred in the 1984 film “Naked Island.” 

Apart from Bustamante and Alajar, award-winning actor Mon Confiado is also part of the movie as Dr. Rey Dela Cruz, the manager of Paloma.

Mon Confiado. Photo: Darryl Yap/Facebook 

Veteran actress Sharmaine Buencamino also stars in the movie as Paloma’s mother, Lydia Duena Whitley. 

Sharmaine Buencamino. Photo: Darryl Yap/Facebook 

The story

Delia Duena Smith, more popularly known as Pepsi Paloma, was a sexy star during the ‘80s. She starred in titillating movies such as “The Victim” (1982), “Naked Island” (1984) and “Virgin People” (1984) among others. 

In 1982, Paloma’s accusations against “Eat Bulaga” hosts Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon and the late Richie D’ Horsie made headlines when she said she was raped by the three comedians. 

According to Paloma, she and fellow sexy star Guada Guarin were brought by the three comedians to Sulo Hotel (Rm 210) in Quezon City where they were drugged and raped. 

Paloma was then 15 years old. 

In May 31, 1985, at only 18 years old, Paloma committed suicide. 

Former Senate President Tito Sotto supposed involvement also came when he allegedly forced Paloma to sign an affidavit of desistance dropping the rape complaint against the three.

Tito Sotto: Pepsi issue ‘fake news,’ asked to take down stories 

In 2018, the former senator branded the published articles linking him to the death of Paloma as “fake news.” 

He also sought to remove the articles “The Rape of Pepsi Paloma,” “Was Pepsi Paloma murdered?” and “Tito Sotto denies whitewashing Pepsi Paloma rape case” from online news site Inquirer.net. 

In his letter to Inquirer.net, Sotto explained that the articles had a “malicious imputation of a crime” against him and that “these kinds of unverified articles have been negatively affecting my reputation for the longest time.”

In an interview in the Senate still in 2018, Sotto still said the Pepsi Paloma issue was an “original fake news, so do not make a big deal out of it.”

He also said then that he will definitely press charges if Inquirer.net will fail to take down the stories.  

Inquirer.net confirmed Sotto’s request dated May 29, 2018 and eventually decided to remove the controversial articles. 

In their official statement, Inquirer.net said “The articles on the Pepsi Paloma case are currently under review and are unavailable at the moment.” 

Since July 4, 2018, the articles were no longer accessible. 

Coca Nicolas: Rape charges just a ‘gimmick’ 

Fellow former ‘80s sexy star Coca Nicolas who was with Paloma in the group “Softdrink Beauties” also said the rape story was plainly gimmick. 

In an interview with broadcast journalist Julius Babao in his vlog “Julius Babao Unplugged,” Nicolas said Paloma herself said the story was not true and was only made to make them more famous and that the whole thing was only a brainchild of their manager. 

“Nabanggit ko sa kanya ‘yon, sabi ko, ‘Pechay, totoo ba ‘yung kay Tito, Vic and Joey?’” Nicolas told Babao recalling her conversation with Paloma. 

“Hindi, alam mo naman si Tito Rey. Parang hindi ka naman naano diyan kay tito. Lahat gagawin niyan para sumikat tayo,” Nicolas said. 

Both the Sotto brothers and de Leon have not made any statement yet regarding the movie.