Director Darryl Yap announced on Monday that his controversial film, ‘The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma’, will no longer premiere on its original February 5 release date due to incomplete requirements from the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).
In a statement posted on his Facebook account, Yap admitted that his team failed to immediately secure the necessary documents required by the MTRCB.
“Ipinaabot ko po sa lahat ng nakasubaybay na bigo po ang panig ng inyong lingkod na agarang makumpleto ang mga dokumentong hinihingi ng pamunuan ng MTRCB. Kaya’t imposible pong maipalabas sa mga sinehan ang ating pelikula sa February 5,” he wrote.
MTRCB Vice Chairman Paulino Cases Jr. confirmed that the board had not begun reviewing the film due to the distributor’s failure to submit a Certificate or Clearance of No Pending Case from the Department of Justice, the Office of the City Prosecutor, and the Regional Trial Court.
With the delay in the Philippine release, Yap revealed that his team is considering premiering the film abroad first or shifting their focus to streaming platforms.
“Pinag-iisipan na rin ang posibilidad na maunang maipalabas ito sa labas ng bansa o ipagpaliban na ang pagpapalabas sa sinehan at magpokus na lamang sa streaming platforms,” he added.
Additionally, he mentioned that February and March screening slots in local cinemas are already fully booked, making it difficult to secure a new playdate until the required documents are cleared.
In a separate Facebook post, Yap expressed his frustration over the MTRCB’s handling of his film’s review process, stating that his previous 16 films did not face similar requirements.
“Ang nagpa-MTRCB po ng pelikula namin ay ang distributor. Tinanong ko naman kung tinanggap ang materials, umoo naman. 10am pa lang nandun na raw sila—after lunch nagpapaupdate ako, may meeting daw na sinet para sa legal, gabi na ng mabasa ko ang letter para sa mga additional requirements na hindi naman hiningi sa mga pelikula ko noon,” he explained.
He emphasized that he respects the MTRCB’s decision but hopes that his film will be treated fairly.
“Sa ayaw at sa gusto ng sinuman sa industriya, Pilipino ako at manggagawa ng sining. Bahagi ako ng industriyang hindi pagmamay-ari ng kahit na sino. Wala akong intensyon na maging adelantado o pangunahan ang MTRCB, pero hindi ako dapat gawing sinungaling sa maliit na detalye,” Yap said.
As of now, the fate of the film’s theatrical release in the Philippines remains uncertain. Yap’s team is waiting for the clearance to be finalized before securing a new local screening date. Meanwhile, discussions on an international premiere and digital release are ongoing.
Stay tuned for further updates on the film’s release plans.
