Film director Darryl Yap pleaded not guilty to two counts of cyber libel during his arraignment on June 3 at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 203.

The complaints were filed by actor and TV host Vic Sotto, in connection to a teaser for Yap’s controversial film “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma.” The cases are officially listed as Nos. 25-271 and 25-272, and fall under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

“Director Darryl Yap pleaded not guilty to both charges of cyber libel,” Yap’s lawyer Raymond Fortun said after the hearing.

Sotto first filed a complaint on January 9, accusing Yap of 19 counts of cyber libel. By March, the Muntinlupa City Prosecutor’s Office resolved the case and filed two charges based on the teaser, which had been shared on Yap’s and VinCentiments’ Facebook pages.

Sotto did not attend the arraignment.

The film teaser, released on January 1, includes a scene where Charito Solis (played by Gina Alajar) confronts Pepsi Paloma (played by Rhed Bustamante). Solis asks,
“Ipaliwanag mo sa akin! Magsabi ka sa akin! Ipaliwanag mo… Dahil hindi ko naiintindihan! Pepsi sumagot ka! Ni-rape ka ba ni Vic Sotto?”
Paloma responds,
“Oo!”

Other cast members include Mon Confiado, Rosanna Roces, Andres Balano Jr., and Shamaine Buencamino.

The court scheduled the first day of trial on August 19. But before the trial begins, both parties will attend a mandatory mediation conference.

Fortun explained that a mediator will try to help both sides reach a settlement to avoid going to trial.
“There’s always room for settlement. There’s always room for parties to reconcile,” he said.

Sotto’s lawyer, Enrique Dela Cruz Jr., said they have not yet discussed with Sotto whether he is open to settling the case.

📷 Darryl Yap FB

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