Darryl Yap reacts to Vic Sotto's cyberlibel case filed against him: 'Kalayaan ng kahit sino ang magsampa ng reklamo'
Shortly after news of Vic Sotto filing a cyberlibel case against Darryl Yap broke out, the young director made a response on his social media account by saying: "Kalayaan ng kahit sino ang magsampa ng reklamo.”
Darryl is the director of the controversial film that features the life story of the late sexy actress Pepsi Paloma. Vic filed 19 cyberlibel counts shortly after the movie trailer's release where his name was mentioned.
In a Facebook post, Darryl wrote that no one has a monopoly on justice, most especially on the truth. He reiterated that anyone can file a case especially to find the truth.
He also äsked several questions: “Inurong ba ni Pepsi ang asunto? Aang sagot ay nasa litrato. Hindi ba napatunayan ang akusasyon ni Pepsi? Ang sagot ay nasa litrato. Pero NAGSAMPA BA NG KASONG RAPE SI PEPSI LABAN KAY VIC SOTTO? Ang sagot rin ay nasa litrato."
Darryl continued with more questions: "Nagsinungaling ba ang teaser? Ang sagot ay wala sa litrato… Ito ay nasa maraming lathalain, ito ay nasa mga naburang bidyo, ito ay nasa mga lumang dyaryo. Alam nang mga nakakaalam noon, at alam na ng mga nagtatanong ngayon.
He finished the post by addressing Delia, Pepsi's real name, saying “Babalik tayo sa korte.”
Meanwhile, the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court where the case was filed, immediately ordered the takedown of the movie teaser.
In a previous Facebook post, Darryl gave an FAQ about the film and denied that it would be about the Sotto brothers, Tito and Vic, and Joey de Leon but that of the late actress, Pepsi. However, he did mention that the three hosts will be featured in the film.
IN PHOTOS: High profile libel complaints in Philippine showbiz
Piolo Pascual and Sam Milby
In 2007, actors Piolo Pascual and Sam Milby lodged a libel complaint against showbiz writer and talent manager Lolit Solis after she alleged that the actors were sharing "sweet moments" at the poolside of Sofitel Hotel. Since these statements were published in Lolit's Pilipino Star Ngayon column, the late Veronica Samio, who was then the entertainment editor of the newspaper was also included in the complaint.
Lolit Solis
Both Lolit Solis and Veronica Samo were indicted by the Manila prosecutor's office but Piolo Pascual and Sam Milby withdrew the Php 12-million libel suit against the entertainment columnist. According to Piolo, he did not want to see Lolit in jail as she has the same age as his mother. The case was eventually withdrawn. In 2017, the two estranged showbiz personalities and hugged at an event.
Erik Santos
Singer Erik Santos sued Jobert Sucaldito for cyber libel in 2017 when the entertainment host and columnist made several insinuations about Erik's sexuality and alleged that the singer was having an inappropriate relationship with his talent manager Erickson Raymundo. Erickson filed separate suits of cyber libel against Jobert as well.
Jobert Sucaldito
In 2017, Jobert Sucaldito was formally charged with 37 counts of cyber libel. In 2019, he made a plea bargain and plead guilty to the lesser charge of 37 counts of ordinary libel and also applied for probation.
John Lapus
Comedian John Lapus filed a complaint against Jobert Sucaldito in 2011 after the latter wrote in his Bandera column that John got drunk, made a ruckus and acted inappropriately after a Valentine concert at a bar. The complaint advanced to a court case, with Bandera editor Ervin Santiago and publisher Eileen Mangubat set to face charges along with Jobert.
Jobert Sucaldito
Jobert Sucaldito retracted his statements against John Lapus through his column in 2013. Jobert also filed his libel complaint against John Lapus, who made statements in the defunt weekend talk show Showbiz Central asking Jobert to leave him alone. The court later on dismissed the complaint.
Kris Aquino
Queen of All Media Kris Aquino sued Atty. Jesus Falcis III for nine counts of cyber libel. Kris and Atty. Jesus have been engaging in a word war over Nicko Falcis, Atty. Jesus's brother and Kris's former business partner who she accused of misusing the company's credit card for his personal needs.
Jesus Falcis III
In 2019, Kris Aquino, Atty. Jesus Falcis, and Nicko Falcis settled all matters privately. Kris refrained from talking and even turned off the comments on her Instagram account, only opting to release a statement through her lawyers that the three of them "fairly settled all financial issues and amicably worked out all personal differences."
Liz Uy
Celebrity stylist Liz Uy filed libel complaints against blogger Fashion Pulis or Michael Sy Lim after he wrote that Liz had made Maine Mendoza wear "recycled" outfits. This was referring to a Francis Libiran gown that Maine wore to the "Tamang Panahon" concert which was allegedly already worn by actress Kim Chiu, and a jacket that Maine wore on the cover of a magazine that allegedly Liz herself already wore.
Fashion Pulis
In 2017, Fashion Pulis published a blog post saying that the case Liz Uy filed against him has already been dismissed the previous year.
Deniece Cornejo
Model and host Deniece Cornejo sued Fashion Pulis or Michael Sy Lim for libel after he published her leaked medical reports on his blog. The reports contained Deniece's test results after she was allegedly raped by host and dancer Vhong Navarro.
Michael Sy Lim
Michael Sy Lim was arrested over the charge in August 2015. That same year, he apologized to Deniece Cornejo and she decided to drop the charges against him.
Catriona Gray
Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray filed libel and cyber libel complaints against Bulgar entertainment editor Janice Navida contributing writer Melba Llanera after the newspaper published an article about the beauty queen's alleged nude photos in 2021.
Fake photos
The photos turned out to be fake and digitally altered and the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office deemed that Catriona Gray's complaints had merit. Janice Navida faces one libel charge, as well as one cyber libel charge as the posts about the alleged nude photos were also made on Bulgar's Facebook account. Melba Llanera also faces one libel charge. The case is still ongoing.
Annabelle Rama and Eddie Gutierrez
Showbiz couple Annabelle Rama and Eddie Gutierrez lodged libel complaints against Cristy Fermin who was the publisher of defunct showbiz magazine Gossip. The magazine published an article in 1995 which alleged that the couple was hiding in the US to evade estafa charges against them.
Cristy Fermin
In 2008, Cristy Fermin was convicted of libel and was ordered to pay PhP1 million in damages and PhP6,000 in fines to Annabelle Rama and Eddie Gutierrez instead of serving a jail term.
Annabelle Rama
Annabelle Rama filed a cyber libel case against producer Jayke Joson after he allegedly called her a "swindler" with several pending cases in an interview with an online news site in 2021. The Office of the City Prosecutor in Quezon City found probable cause for Annabelle's complaints but Jayke appealed and the Department of Justice dismissed the case in 2023.
Jayke Joson
Jayke Joson, who was a former aide of Senator Manny Pacquiao, also filed a cyber libel case against Annabelle Rama after she called him a "thief" and alleged that he had stolen PhP140 million from the senator. The Office of the Prosecutor in Las Piñas City found probable cause for Jayke's complaints but Annabelle appealed and Department of Justice dismissed the case in 2022.
Nadia Monetenegro
Nadia Montenegro filed libel charges against Annabelle Rama after the talent manager made a series of defamatory tweets and statements on television against her in 2011. In 2013, Nadia decided to withdraw the charges and claimed that she and Annabelle have reconciled.
Annabelle Rama
Annabelle Rama filed libel complaints against Nadia Montenegro due to posts that Nadia made on Facebook and Twitter against her in 2012. The complaint also included late actress Amalia Fuentes and late showbiz reporter Chito Alcid. The Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor junked the libel charges in 2013.
Amalia Fuentes
Amalia Fuentes filed libel complaints against Annabelle Rama for calling her names on social media in 2012. Television host Bianca Gonzales was also included in the complaint as she published an interview in her newspaper column where Annabelle alleged that Amalia went after her husband Eddie Gutierrez and even had an affair with him.
Annabelle Rama
The Office of the City Prosecutor in Quezon City dismissed the complaints arguing that Annabelle Rama was simply recounting events in her life in Bianca Gonzales's column. For her social media posts, laws against cyber libel were not yet enacted then so statements made online do not fall under what libel laws would consider a publication.
Amalia Fuentes
In 2012, Amalia Fuentes filed a libel complaint against Ruffa Gutierrez who posted blind item-type statements about "an old, fat, smelly woman who won't stop inventing false stories" about her and her family on Twitter. Included in the complaint was showbiz writer Allan Diones who picked up Ruffa's posts and published an article on Abante Tonite claiming that it was Amalia that Ruffa was referring to. Amalia also lodged complaints against the newspaper's president Allen Macasaet; managing editor Nicolas Quijano Jr.; editorial board members Janet Bay, Jesus Galang, Jeany Lacorte and Randy Hagos; advertising officer Ron Tamayo; production officer Jeorge Punzalan; and circulation officer Lino Minor.
Ruffa Gutierrez
The complaint against Ruffa Gutierrez was junked as laws against cyber libel were not yet enacted when she made the posts and statements made online do not fall under what libel laws would consider a publication. Abante Tonite writer Allan Diones and Abante Tonite resident Allen Macasaet; managing editor Nicolas Quijano Jr.; editorial board members Janet Bay, Jesus Galang, Jeany Lacorte and Randy Hagos; advertising officer Ron Tamayo; production officer Jeorge Punzalan; and circulation officer Lino Minor faced libel charges.
Esther Lahbati
Esther Lahbati, the mother of actress Sarah Lahbati sued veteran showbiz writer Cristy Fermin for cyber libel in the early part of 2024. Included in the suit were Cristy's Showbiz Now Na co-hosts Wendell Alvarez and Romel Chika. On her Instagram account, Esther posted a picture of her and her husband Abdel Lahbati in front of the Department of Justice, triggering speculations on who she might be suing. Cristy herself confirmed on her online show Showbiz Now Na that she and her co-hosts were indeed the reason for Esther's visit to DOJ.
Cristy Fermin
As the case in ongoing, Cristy Fermin did not give details on what the basis Esther Lahbati's cyber libel complaint was but many speculate that it might have something to do with Cristy and her co-hosts Wendell Alvarez and Romel Chika's statements in online show Showbiz Now Na which fueled rumors about the separation of Sarah Lahbati and her husband Richard Gutierrez.
Bea Alonzo
On May 2, 2024, Bea Alonzo filed cyber libel complaints against Cristy Fermin, Ogie Diaz, and their respective online show co-hosts. The suit also included a basher who pretended to be affiliated to Bea and was feeding false information to showbiz reporters. According to Bea, Cristy, Ogie, and their co-hosts continued to defame her in their columns and shows, even going as far as mentioning her alleged case of not paying the correct tax.
Cristy Fermin and Ogie Diaz
In an episode of his online show Ogie Diaz Showbiz Update, Ogie Diaz said that he has no hard feelings towards Bea Alonzo. While he vows that he will defend himself in court, he also recognized that Bea was well within her rights to defend herself. Cristy Fermin reacted to Bea's suit in her online show CristyFerMinute, denying singling out Bea and profiting off her but adding that she was ready to face her in court.
Cristy Fermin
Cristy Fermin reacted to Sharon Cuneta and Kiko Panglinan's complaint against her in the May 10 episode of her online show Cristy FerMinute. "Territorial po 'yan. 'Yang mga libel case, mga cyber libel, it comes with the territory," she said.
