MANILA — Veteran actor and television host Vic Sotto on Thursday filed a cyber libel complaint against filmmaker Darryl Yap over the trailer of a movie about the late '80s star Pepsi Paloma. 

Sotto and his lawyers filed the complaint for 19 counts of cyber libel before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court.

The complaint includes a prayer for moral damages worth P20 million and exemplary damages worth P15 million.

"Labing-siyam na beses po nagpahayag o nagpost ng mapanirang imputation yung respondent kaya 19 counts. Bawat post po na mapanira ay isang count," lawyer Enrique Dela Cruz Jr. said.

"Dito po sa criminal case ang finile lang po namin si Mr. Darryl Yap. Ang case po natin ay cyber libel. Anyone who caused the publications. Siya po ang sinasabi naming nagcause ng publication nung mga malicious and defamatory statements," he said.

Sotto's name was mentioned in the first teaser for the film entitled "The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma" posted online on January 1.

"Marami pong nagtatanong kung anong reaction ko noong lumabas itong issue.  Ako'y nanahimik. Wala naman akong sinasagot…. Ito na po yun. Ito na po yung reaction ko," he told reporters after filing the complaint.

"Sabi ko nga eh, ito'y walang personalan ito. I just trust in the justice system. Ako'y laban sa mga irresponsableng tao lalo na pag dating sa social media," Sotto added.

Sotto said he was not consulted about the movie and he only heard about it through his wife, actress and TV host Pauleen Luna.

"Wala. Walang kumonsulta, walang nagpaalam, walang consent," he said.

Sotto refused to comment when asked if he thought the issue was politically motivated, as his son Pasig City mayor Vico Sotto is seeking re-election.

"I don't want to comment on that. This is a non-political issue, for me ah. Ewan ko sa ibang tao," he said.

"Lahat ng pamilya ko, kaibigan ko full support sa akin. Kahit ano mang aksyon ko. Sabi nga nila, kung plano mo ulit, they will be in full support," Sotto said.

When asked if he had a message for Yap, he said "Wala naman. Happy New Year."

Luna said their family has been affected since the issue blew up on social media.

"Katulad lang din ng reaction ng asawa ko. Pareho lang po. Of course, as parents and as his wife, naaapektuhan po kami. But of course, ito po yung tamang sagot sa lahat ng ito," she shared.

Sotto was also asked to respond to the public's reactions to the trailer.

"Kanya-kanya namang ano eh. Demokrasya tayo eh. Kanya-kanyang paniwala yan. Basta ako naniniwala sa sistema ng ating hustisya," he said.

Yap said the upcoming film would revisit Paloma's alleged rape and subsequent death in 1985. He first revealed in October that he was working on the film.

Last week, the filmmaker shared a photo of him with the mother and brother of Paloma, whose perspective would supposedly be part of the film.

Paloma's case made headlines in 1982 following her allegation that comedians Sotto, Joey De Leon and Richie D'Horsie of supposedly drugged and raped her.

Paloma was found lifeless inside her apartment in 1985.

Sotto: Pepsi Paloma rape stories are 'fake news'

After Sotto filed the complaint, Yap said, "Kalayaan ng kahit sino ang magsampa ng reklamo, Walang may monopolyo sa katarungan, lalo na sa katotohanan."

"Malaya ang sinuman na magsampa ng reklamo, para mas maging malinaw ang totoo. dahil sa huli, Katotohanan lang ang depensa sa lahat ng Katanungan," he said on Facebook.

"Delia, Pepsi— Babalik tayo sa Korte. Ang Pilipino sa Sinehan," Yap wrote at the end of his post.

The film's cast includes Rhed Bustamante who plays Paloma, Mon Confiado as Paloma's talent manager Dr. Rey Dela Cruz, Gina Alajar as the late actress Charito Solis, Shamaine Buencamino as Paloma's mother Lydia Duena Whitley, and Andres Balano Jr. as Richie D'Horsie.

Sotto said he had nothing against the actors in the film who were "just doing their job."

The film is expected to be released this year, but no specific date has been announced.

Yap is also the director behind another controversial film "Maid in Malacañang", which came out in July 2022.

NO MORE TEASERS, RELEASE OF FILM?

The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 205 has ordered the issuance of a Writ of Habeas Data, the petition of which was filed by Sotto's camp on January 7.

The writ enjoins respondents from further violating petitioner’s right to privacy.

Dela Cruz said the basis of their petition was Yap’s failure to seek Sotto's consent.

"Lahat po ng paglabag sa privacy ng aming kliyente ay nais naming ipatigil. Kaya po sakop doon ang pagpapalabas ng anumang teaser video na sumasaklaw sa kanyang privacy na walang consent ng kanyang privacy," he said.

"Kasama kasi sa hinihingi namin na pangalagaan, proteksyunan ng korte yung privacy ng aming kliyente dahil ito ay nakakaapekto na sa kanyang life and security. Nalilimitahan ang kanilang kilos dahil natatakot sila sa physical threats na dulot ng video," Dela Cruz added.

The lawyer said Yap should respond to the petition within five days upon receipt.

He issued a warning to individuals who have shared or reposted the teaser and other materials, as well as those who still planned to do so.

"Caution lang po sa lahat na ang usapin tungkol sa umano'y pelikulang the Rape of Pepsi Paloma ay subject na po ng paglilitis sa korte. At may utos na po ang korte sa writ of habeas data na ito ay lumalabag sa karapatan ng aming kliyente. Kung kaya't pansamantala ay ginrant ang habeas data. Ibig sabihin ay tigilan po natin ang pagpo-post, pagsi-share ng mga bagay na ito hanggang sa ito ay mapag-usapan sa hukuman," Dela Cruz said.

"Gayundin yung pag-take down ng mga posts, pagpigil sa pelikula kung meron mang lalabas, pagpigil sa sino mang tao na magshashare, magpo-post ng naturang defamatory video," he added.

Dela Cruz also responded to Yap's reaction on his social media account.

"Yun ang sensitive personal information, pangalan ng kliyente, pangalan ng data subject at yung kaso ng rape. All the rest pwede naman niya ilabas eh. Yun lang naman yung problema eh. So kaya nakikiusap kami, na may batas tayo na proteksyunan ito eh. So sundan natin yung batas," he said.

"Walang proteksyon na binibigay ang batas sa libel. So hindi mo pwedeng gamitin ang creative license bilang depensa sa libel. Good intentions, hindi mo pwedeng gamitin sa libel. Malaya tayo magpahayag, malaya tayo gumawa ng pelikula. Ang exemption lang, huwag kang gagawa ng libelous statements," he added.

‘WALA PONG PERSONALAN’  

Yap said he would immediately respond to the complaint once he receives a copy.

“Ang sa akin lamang, lahat po ng materyal na aking inilabas o ilalabas ay nakadokumento—hindi ko po gawa-gawa para makapanira,” the filmmaker said.

“Wala pong personalan, naglalahad lamang po ako ng nangyari sa nakaraan na makikita sa mga nailathala noong 1980s. Naisapubliko naman po iyon,” he added.

He said the film’s teaser had noted that Pepsi Paloma’s withdrew the rape complaint that she had filed.  

“Wala po akong sinabing Si Vic Sotto ang pinatutungkulan ng Title ng Pelikula—Sila lang po ang nagsabi nyan. Mahalagang mapanood muna nila ang buong Pelikula,” Yap said.