Filmmaker Darryl Yap has requested the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) to cancel the scheduled summary hearing regarding the petition for a writ of habeas data filed by TV host-actor Vic Sotto.
Yap also sought to consolidate the case with the PHP 35 million cyber libel complaint filed against him.
On January 13, Yap, through his lawyer Atty. Raymond Fortun, filed a motion for immediate consolidation and asked the court to cancel the January 15 hearing set by Muntinlupa RTC Branch 205.
The controversy began when Sotto filed a PHP 35 million cyber libel complaint on January 9 at the Muntinlupa Prosecutor’s Office after his name was mentioned in the teaser video for Yap’s upcoming film ‘The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma’, which is slated for a February release.
Earlier, on January 7, Sotto also filed a petition for a writ of habeas data, requesting the court to remove the teaser video and promotional materials containing his personal or sensitive information.
The Muntinlupa RTC Branch 205 granted Sotto’s petition, ordering Yap to submit a verified return of the writ within five days and setting a summary hearing on January 15.
In response, Yap filed an urgent motion for a gag order, which the court approved, limiting public commentary on the case. The court also directed Sotto to submit his comment on Yap’s motion for case consolidation and rescheduled the hearing from January 15 to January 17.
The case has sparked public interest, as Yap’s film revisits the controversial story of the late actress Pepsi Paloma, a topic that has long been shrouded in intrigue and legal disputes.
Sotto’s legal team argues that the unauthorized use of his personal information in connection with the movie’s teaser constitutes a violation of privacy. Meanwhile, Yap maintains that the cases should be consolidated for efficiency.
The outcome of the upcoming January 17 hearing will determine how the legal proceedings unfold and whether the film’s promotional materials will be affected.
