Former Senate President Tito Sotto III made headlines after posting a cryptic message on his X (formerly Twitter) account on January 9, 2025, which many believe was aimed at filmmaker Darryl Yap amid the ongoing controversy involving his brother, ‘Eat Bulaga’ host Vic Sotto.
In his post, Sotto wrote: “When you rely on an old showbiz gimmick to make money and got your facts all wrong, you will falter, for sure!”
When you rely on an old showbiz gimmick to make money and got your facts all wrong, you will falter, for sure!
— Tito Sotto (@sotto_tito) January 9, 2025
Although Sotto did not mention any names, netizens speculated that the post was related to Vic Sotto’s recent filing of 19 counts of cyber libel against Yap. The case stems from the teaser for Yap’s upcoming film ‘The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma,’ which mentions Vic Sotto by name and was released on January 1, 2025.
On January 9, Vic Sotto, accompanied by his wife Pauleen Luna-Sotto and legal team, filed the formal complaint at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC). The teaser’s content has been heavily criticized by Vic, who claims that his name was unjustly dragged into the project, prompting the legal action.
Despite the online stir, Tito Sotto has not responded to the comments or clarified the intent behind his post.
The controversy reignited public interest in the decades-old Pepsi Paloma case, which has long been shrouded in mystery. Yap, known for his provocative storytelling, has remained firm and has not removed the teaser despite the backlash.
Legal experts believe that the outcome of this case could set a precedent for how public figures handle defamation claims in the digital age. Meanwhile, Vic Sotto maintains that his primary concern is protecting his family, particularly his young daughter, from online threats that have emerged due to the film’s teaser.
