(From left) Vic Sotto and Darryl Yap. Images: FILE PHOTOS
The legal face-off between screen veteran Vic Sotto and filmmaker Darryl Yap has started later this week before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court, which the two show biz personalities attending their first hearing on the former’s petition or habeas data.
At the center of the controversy is the showing of the movie “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma,” which Yap said was about the story of the late 80’s daring star, Pepsi Paloma whose life and death remained a puzzle up to this time. This year would mark Paloma’s 40th death anniversary.
Meanwhile, “And the Breadwinner Is…,” “Green Bones,” and “The Kingdom” topped the box office of the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
Here are INQUIRER.net’s biggest entertainment news from January 10 to 16.
Vic Sotto, Darryl Yap in court
Vic Sotto and Darryl Yap. Image: Instagram/@pauleenlunasotto; Facebook/Darryl Yap
Vic Sotto and Darryl Yap were present at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court on Friday, Jan 17, to attend the hearing of the veteran TV host’s petition for the writ of habeas data.
Both Sotto and Yap greeted the members of the press but did not comment on the legal matters because of the gag order earlier issued by the court. This is the first time they arrived since the case was filed and eventually set for hearing.
Yap, who arrived at the Muntinlupa court by himself, nonetheless said that he was “okay” and that he is “finishing the movie,” apparently referring to the film which he titled “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma.”
Sotto, for his part, remained mum. The “Eat Bulaga” host was accompanied by his wife Pauleen Luna.
Aside from the habeas data case, Sotto also separately filed 19 counts of cyber libel against Yap, after the movie teaser branded him as one of the alleged rapists of Paloma.
Gag order issued to Vic Sotto, Darryl Yap
(From left) Vic Sotto and Darryl Yap. Image: FILE PHOTOS
The Muntinlupa RTC issued a gag order on the camp of both petitioner Vic Sotto, and respondent Darryl Yap, in connection with a motion filed by the filmmaker in a bid to stop the actor-host from disclosing information related to the biopic of the late ’80s sexy star Pepsi Paloma.
The motion was filed in the trial court handling Sotto’s habeas data petition. The same court had directed Yap to file a verified reply to Sotto’s petition, at the same time setting the case for hearing.
Finding merit on Yap’s motion, the trial court directed all the parties to refrain from speaking about the contents of Yap’s verified return, and other matters concerning the case, citing the sub judice rule
Sought for comment, Sotto’s lawyer Enrique dela Cruz said they will abide by the court’s gag order.
Yap’s lawyer Raymond Fortun earlier said that they sought a gag order to prevent the camp of the petitioner from disclosing the content of the yet unreleased movie to the public.
At the same time, the filmmaker also filed a motion seeking to consolidate the habeas data civil case and the cyber libel complaint, which is still pending before the prosecutors, which the court subsequently denied, noting that the “two legal actions are inherently distinct in nature, purpose, jurisdiction, and procedure.”
Vic Sotto: ‘I have a clean conscience’
(From left) Vic Sotto and Darryl Yap. Images: Hannah Mallorca/INQUIRER.net, Facebook/Darryl Yap
Don’t expect Vic Sotto to dwell too much on his ongoing legal battle with Darryl Yap even as a gag order was issued by the Muntinlupa RTC on his habeas data petition.
Amid the ongoing legal battle, Sotto was quite chill when he spoke with reporters on the sidelines of a barley drink launch in Quezon City on January 14. “I’m good. I’m relaxed. Just going with the flow. For me, I trust in God,” he said.
“Because I have a clean conscience. Malinis ang pakiramdam ko. Wala naman dapat ika-worry. Mai-istress ka lang kapag iniisip mo,” he said, adding that his personal mantra is simply to go over these drawbacks, but not to dwell on them.
The actor-comedian said he appreciates the support of his family, and friends, especially his wife Pauleen Luna, who leads his steady support system.
Touching on his close bond with his brother Senate reelectionist Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and co-host Joey de Leon, he said that they, too, would go “all out” in supporting him
“All-out support. Kahit anong mangyari, sama-sama kami,” he said. “Ako talaga si relax lang eh, hindi ko masyadong pinoproblema ang mga problema. Hindi tayo bibigyan ng problema ng Panginoon kung hindi kayang ayusin.”
No consolidation of ‘Pepsi Paloma’ cases
Vic Sotto with his wife Pauleen Luna and Darryl Yap (right) | Image: INQUIRER.net/Facebook
The Muntinlupa RTC rejected director Darryl Yap’s motion to consolidate two legal cases filed by veteran actor-host Vic Sotto in connection with the controversial trailer for “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma.”
In an order dated January 14, Judge Liezel Aquiatan of Muntinlupa RTC Branch 205 ruled against Yap’s bid to merge Sotto’s petition for a writ of habeas data and his separate criminal complaint for 19 counts of cyber libel.
“The motion for immediate consolidation is devoid of merit. The two legal actions are inherently distinct in nature, purpose, jurisdiction, and procedure,” the presiding judge stated.
“The petition and the criminal complaint are pending before distinct forums and are governed by separate procedural frameworks. Thus, consolidation is legally impermissible,” stated the court, emphasizing that each case must proceed independently.
The court also clarified that while the writ of habeas data had been issued, it did not constitute a takedown order, contrary to the interpretation of Sotto’s legal team. In a separate ruling, the court denied Sotto’s motion to issue a show-cause order against Yap over a social media post allegedly violating a gag order.
It found that the post merely reiterated its directives with minor deviations but reminded Yap of the existing gag order and the “severe consequences” for future violations.
Sotto initially filed the habeas data petition to demand the removal of all the film’s promotional materials and a criminal complaint accusing Yap of spreading “malicious and defamatory statements” after the film’s trailer linked him to the alleged assault of Paloma in the 1980s.
Tito Sotto denies receiving ‘Pepsi Paloma’ movie script
Tito Sotto. Image: Instagram/@helenstito
Tito Sotto denied that he received a copy of the script of Darryl Yap’s upcoming movie “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma,” following a claim by the director-screenwriter’s legal counsel that it was forwarded to a particular “Sotto sibling who’s a senator.”
In a text message to INQUIRER.net on January 12, Atty. Raymond Fortun said the script of the upcoming movie, which is based on the late sexy star Pepsi Paloma, was forwarded by an unnamed emissary to a “Sotto sibling who’s a senator” before the movie kickstarted production.
“Direk Yap was told that the script had been given to the Sotto sibling [a senator]. There was no feedback, even as he followed up twice,” Fortun said. “Script was given to the intermediary before Christmas. Follow-ups [were] made before Christmas. Shooting was during the Christmas.”
This, however, was denied by Sotto in a Viber message when asked for his reaction. The senator-host said that a copy of the script was given to Viva CEO Vic del Rosario. He also reiterated that the claim is a “big lie” as he “never saw nor read” the script.
“No. They gave a copy to Vic del Rosario, not Vic Sotto, and asked Viva if they can produce it although at that time they were already shooting the movie. Vic Del Rosario himself called me and asked if I wanted a copy. I said I’m not interested but if he will send a copy, I will forward it to my lawyer instead,” he said.
When asked if he was referring to the Viva CEO, Sotto said: “Yes. Tinanggihan sila ng Viva. Vic [del Rosario] told me.”
Sotto reiterated his stand on his X (formerly Twitter) page on January 13, saying neither he nor Vic read the script of Yap’s movie. “Not true. False. They gave a script to Vic del Rosario, not Vic Sotto. Vic nor I never read their script,” he said.
The particular claim was also denied by Vic Sotto’s legal counsel Enrique Dela Cruz in a text message, saying that Fortun was “probably misinformed.”
“He is probably misinformed. Sen. Tito Sotto said that is not true,” he said.
‘And the Breadwinner Is,’ ‘Green Bones’ top MMFF 2024
The posters of “And the Breadwinner Is…,” “Green Bones,” and “The Kingdom.” Images: Courtesy of Star Cinema and The IdeaFirst Company, GMA Pictures, and MQuest Ventures
“And the Breadwinner Is…,” “Green Bones,” and “The Kingdom” are the top three entries of the 2024 MMFF based on gross sale receipts, according to the MMDA.
The top MMFF 2024 entries — listed in alphabetical order — were confirmed by MMDA in a press statement on January 15.
The Jun Robles Lana-helmed film stars Vice Ganda, Eugene Domingo, Jhong Hilario, and Gladys Reyes. It has earned more than P400 million at the box office, as announced by Star Cinema and The IdeaFirst Company.
“Green Bones” is directed by Zig Dulay, with Dennis Trillo and Ruru Madrid taking on the lead roles. While its box office sales are yet to be announced, it bagged Best Picture at the MMFF 2024 Gabi ng Parangal.
“The Kingdom” stars Vic Sotto, Piolo Pascual, Sue Ramirez, Cristine Reyes, and Sid Lucero. Among its awards include Second Best Picture and Best Director. However, details on its box office sales are yet to be disclosed.
The MMFF 2024 earned P800 million in gross sales, which, according to the MMDA, was the festival’s target.
This was lower than the 2023 edition of the film festival which earned P1.069 billion in ticket sales. The box office sales were recorded on Jan. 7, 2023, a week before its extension.
MMDA chair and concurrent MMFF chairman Romando Artes thanked festival stakeholders and moviegoers for the successful run of the 50th anniversary of the festival.
“We did our best to give the public the best edition of the MMFF for its Golden Year. There are lessons to be learned, but we acknowledge the great effort and sacrifice given by the ones who were part of this milestone festival,” he said.
Ivana Alawi says LA home was nearly destroyed in fire
Ivana Alawi. Images: Instagram/@ivanaalawi
Ivana Alawi is worried about the state of her property in Los Angeles, California as it nearly caught fire during the onslaught of the deadly wildfires in the Southern California area.
On her Instagram Story on January 11, Alawi uploaded a photo of her home with raging flames engulfing the area behind it. It remains unknown, however, if the actress is in the US state, as of posting.
“Outside our house [right now]. Pray for LA,” she wrote.
Thousands of homes and properties were burned during the deadly wildfires in the Southern California region, particularly in Los Angeles, with reports saying that over 180,000 residents are forced to evacuate.
Among the Hollywood celebrities who lost their homes in the fires are Mandy Moore, Paris Hilton, Jhené Aiko, Jeff Bridges, Billy Crystal, Eugene Levy, Leighton Meester, Adam Brody, Miles Teller, Mel Gibson, and Jamie Lee Curtis, among many others.
Angel Locsin recovers X page
Angel Locsin. Image: Instagram/@therealangellocsin
Angel Locsin informed her followers that she got her hacked X account back, marking her first social media activity amid her hiatus since 2022.
Locsin shared the good news via her X page on Jan. 15. “Hello everyone. Long time no chat,” she began. “I just wanna say I have recovered my X account.”
“Thank you sa mga tumulong and X for helping. I miss you all and ingat lagi,” she added.
Some netizens initially doubted Locsin’s statement after the hacker earlier claimed that the actress’ X page was retrieved when it was not.
In response to this, Locsin asked her husband Neil Arce to issue a confirmation, which the latter did via his Instagram Stories. “Account of Angel has been retrieved!” Arce said.
Fans of Locsin were earlier alarmed after the actress made several suspicious replies to billionaire Elon Musk’s tweets. Some of the tweets from the actress’ account included links and promotion for supposed crypto giveaways.
A statement released on Locsin’s verified Facebook page then informed the public that her X page had been hacked.