Inquirer.net conducts probe on Pepsi Paloma articles

Inquirer.net on Saturday said it is conducting an investigation on the articles US-based writer Rodel Rodis wrote about the alleged gang rape of Pepsi Paloma in 1982.

It also said that is deferring the posting of Rodis' articles while the investigation is going on.

The two articles were both published in March 2014 and said that Vicente "Tito" Sotto III went to see actress Pepsi Paloma and "coerced" her into dropping any legal action against his brother Vic Sotto and his companions who were linked to the alleged rape.

Inquirer.net said it has asked Rodis "to substantiate his allegations in his two articles."

Sotto has written a letter to the news website asking that it take down three articles about the senator's alleged involvement in the move to whitewash the alleged rape case.

He expressed confidence that Inquirer.net would remove the articles online "because it's fake news, it's original fake news."

The National Union of Journalist of the Philippines (NUJP) has condemned Sotto for his "brazen attempt to suppress freedom of the press and of expression." —KG, GMA News