The petition for a writ of habeas data filed by actor-TV host Vic Sotto against director Darryl Yap regarding the teaser video of his controversial film "The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma" was partially granted.
The decision was issued by Presiding Judge Liezel Aquiatan of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 205 on 24 January.
The court ruling stated, "The Petition for a Writ of Habeas Data filed by Petitioner Marvic 'Vic' Castelo Sotto is hereby partially granted."
The court ordered Yap "to delete, take down and remove the 26-second teaser video from online platforms, social media, or any other medium."
“Respondent Darryl Ray Spyke B. Yap and any person or entity acting on his behalf, including the production team of Vin Centiments, are ordered to delete, take down and remove the 26-second teaser video from online platforms, social media, or any other medium for having misused the collected data/information by presenting a conversation between two deceased individuals, which cannot be verified as having actually occurred,” the court ruled.
Yap's lawyer, Atty. Raymond Fortun, said, “Other than to take down the teaser, the decision does not enjoin any act, or deletion, destruction, or rectification of erroneous data or information.”
The teaser video of the film, released on January 1, showing a conversation between Paloma and Solis, triggered the filing of the case.
In the teaser video, Solis (Alajar) asked Paloma (Bustamante), "Ipaliwanag mo sa akin! Magsabi ka sa akin! Ipaliwanag mo... Dahil hindi ko naiintindihan! Pepsi sumagot ka! Ni-rape ka ba ni Vic Sotto?" ("Explain to me! Tell me! Explain... Because I don't understand! Pepsi, answer me! Did Vic Sotto rape you?")
To which Paloma shouted, "Oo!" ("Yes!").