Tito Sotto. Image: Instagram/@helenstito
Senate reelectionist Vicente “Tito” Sotto III 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 Sunday, 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.
Article continues after this advertisement“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.”
FEATURED STORIES ENTERTAINMENT Tito Sotto denies receiving 'Pepsi Paloma' movie script ENTERTAINMENT ‘Squid Game 2’ star Park Sung-hoon exits drama project following controversy ENTERTAINMENT IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Vic Sotto, Darryl Yap's legal tussle over ‘Pepsi Paloma’ movieThis, however, was denied by Sotto in a Viber message when asked for his reaction. The senator-host said that the 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.
Article continues after this advertisementWhen asked if he was referring to the Viva CEO, Sotto said: “Yes. Tinanggihan sila ng Viva (It was rejected by Viva). Vic [del Rosario] told me.”
IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines, Inc. (IBPAP) chief operating officer Celeste Ilagan said they are “very concerned” about Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) 5-2024, which the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) released in January, as it mandates a 25 percent withholding tax and 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) on business entities providing cross-border services.
Article continues after this advertisementSotto reiterated his stand on his X (formerly Twitter) page on Monday, January 13, saying neither he nor Vic read the script of Yap’s movie.
Article continues after this advertisement“Not true. False. They gave a script to Vic del Rosario, not Vic Sotto. Vic nor I never read their script,” he said.
Not true. False. They gave a script to Vic del Rosario, not Vic Sotto. Vic nor I never read their script. https://t.co/6yyQUWjNMO
— Tito Sotto (@sotto_tito) January 13, 2025
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.
Sotto’s younger brother Vic Sotto is the one who filed a habeas data petition and 19 counts of cyberlibel complaint against Darryl Yap over the Pepsi Paloma movie and its controversial trailer.
INQUIRER.net again reached out to the Sottos’ legal camp but it has yet to reply, as of posting.
On request for gag orderFortun, who sought an urgent motion for the issuance of a gag order before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 205 last January 11, said the request was meant to urge both parties to be restricted from releasing information to the public about the movie.
“The gag order is to prevent the petitioner from disclosing details of the movie as it violates Direk Yap’s rights to the same. It is also to prevent erroneous statements coming from his lawyers. They claimed, nay, insisted that the judge had issued a takedown order of Direk Yap’s materials when there is nothing in the order that even suggests this. The same lawyers impliedly admitted this error when they filed an exparte Motion for Clarification before the courts closed last Friday,” Fortun explained.
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When sought for comment on the request for a gag order, Dela Cruz said that they “have not received” it yet, although he noted that the request was “ironic,” as the movie’s trailer was framed to sensationalize it before its upcoming release.
“We have not received it yet. Ironic that he is asking for a gag order. Siya may gusto ng public attention kaya niya sinadya na gawing controversial ang teaser video (He is the one who wants public attention as he intentionally made the teaser video controversial)mango win,” he said.
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