Muntinlupa court orders removal of Pepsi Paloma film teaser, other materials

A Muntinlupa court has ordered director Darryl Yap and his representatives to take down the teaser and other materials for his film, “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma.”

According to Nimfa Ravelo’s report on Super Radyo dzBB, the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 205 temporarily issued a writ of habeas data filed on Monday by actor and host Vic Sotto, who was mentioned and accused of rape in the teaser.

The RTC reportedly prohibited Yap from further distributing all promotional materials, teasers, and other content.

It ordered him to remove or take down all materials that were already posted on social media. Aside from this, the court also prohibited the sharing of these posts.

“May utos na po ang korte sa writ of habeas data na ito ay lumalabag sa karapatan ng ating kliyente kung kaya’t pansamantala ay grinant ang habeas data,” Sotto’s legal counsel, Atty. Enrique Dela Cruz, said in the report.

(The court has issued a writ of habeas data as his right was violated so he was temporarily granted habeas data.)

“Ibig sabihin ay tigilan muna natin ang pag po-post, pag she-share ng mga bagay na ito hanggang sa ito ay mapag usapan,” he added.

(This means that the posting and sharing of the materials are prohibited while the case is ongoing.)

In its order, the RTC also ordered Yap to appear for the summary hearing of the petition for a writ of habeas data on January 15.

According to the report, Dela Cruz said they asked the court in their petition to protect Sotto’s privacy as rape is a personal sensitive information.

The rape allegations have caused physical threat to Sotto and his wife, Pauleen Luna, and also caused their child to be bullied.

Earlier, Sotto filed 19 counts of cyberlibel against Yap over the teaser.

GMA News Online has sought comment from Yap but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

FLASH REPORT: Pagpapalabas ng pelikula at movie teasers sa kahit anumang platform ukol sa paratang na panggagahasa ng movie at TV personality na si Vic Sotto, ipinatigil ng korte. | via @nimfaravelo pic.twitter.com/kXbkIpSUn9

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) January 9, 2025

— CDC, GMA Integrated News