Court orders Yap to delete Paloma movie teaser video, allows for theater release

Darryl Yap / Facebook

MANILA, Philippines – The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court has granted the Writ of Habeas Corpus petition filed by comedian Vic Sotto against filmmaker Darryl Yap over his name’s mention in the latter’s Pepsi Paloma movie.

The court orders Yap and all persons acting on his behalf, including the production team of Vin Centiments to “delete, take down and remove the 26-second teaser video from online platforms, social media, or any other medium for having misused the collected data/information by presenting a conversation between two deceased individuals, which cannot be verified as having actually occurred.”

The teaser video of the film was a scene between Paloma (played by Rhed Bustamante) and veteran actress Charito Solis (played by Gina Alajar) having a heated confrontation showing the latter asked the young startet if she was raped by Vic Sotto answered by Paloma with a resounding “yes.”

Both actresses are now deceased. Paloma died on May 31, 1985 of suicide by hanging herself while Solis died on January 9, 1998 of a heart attack.

The order however still allows the production to “proceed with the production and eventual release of the film.”

Sotto’s camp was pleased with the court’s decision.

Sotto’s legal counsel Enrique dela Cruz expressed their gratitude to the court for their favorable decision.

“Nagpapasalamat kami sa kagalang-galang na hukuman dahil naging patas ang pagdinig at nabigyang hustisya ang idinulog na reklamo ni Mr. Vic Sotto,” Dela Cruz said.

Apart from the teaser video immediately being taken down, Dela Cruz said they wish that would soon be taken down as well as the other related platforms.

“Sana ay tanggalin na agad ang teaser video na ginamit ang pangalan ni Mr. Vic Sotto at tanggalin na din ang anumang promo materials at iba pang sensitive personal information ni Mr. Vic Sotto,” he said.

Yap’s camp then answered Sotto’s habeas data petition with a petition to consolidate all of Sotto’s cases against him including 19 counts of cyber libel. The court however denied his petition saying consolidation is “legally impermissible” for cases without common legal or factual issues.