Veteran actor and TV host Vic Sotto (left) and filmmaker Darryl Yap. ARCHIVE

Veteran actor and TV host Vic Sotto is gearing up for a legal battle against filmmaker Darryl Yap following the release of a controversial teaser for Yap’s upcoming film, The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma. The teaser, which names Sotto in connection with the high-profile 1982 Pepsi Paloma case, has sparked outrage and debate online. According to TV5, where Eat Bulaga now airs, Sotto and his legal counsel plan to file a complaint at the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court on January 9. The case revolves around allegations made in the film teaser, which Sotto’s camp says are baseless and damaging. Yap defended his project, stating that the film is a “shocking truthful revelation” based on published accounts. “This movie is not about accusing anyone but about telling Pepsi Paloma’s story,” Yap explained in a Facebook post. He clarified that the film is independently produced and not influenced by political or personal motives against the Sotto family. The late Pepsi Paloma, whose real name was Delia Dueñas Smith, became a controversial figure in the 1980s after alleging rape by prominent TV personalities. She was found dead in 1985 in an apparent suicide. The case remains a subject of intrigue and debate. The film stars Rhed Bustamante and Gina Alajar and is set to premiere later this year as the legal battle unfolds. ICA/Expat Media
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