Darryl Yap says ‘The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma’ is a ‘truthful revelation’
Controversial director Darryl Yap defends the creation of his upcoming movie “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma.” Images: Facebook/Darryl Yap
Darryl Yap stood his ground on the creation of his upcoming movie “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma” while reiterating that it’s a “shocking truthful revelation,” as its trailer sparked mixed reactions on social media.
Yap announced the release of his movie about the late Pepsi Paloma — whose real name is Delia Dueñas Smith — in late 2024 and dropped its trailer on Thursday, Jan. 2. The trailer showed its lead star Rhed Bustamante being confronted by Gina Alajar if she was indeed raped by Vic Sotto.
Following the trailer’s release, the director-screenwriter clarified on Facebook on Thursday that his movie is not funded by production company Television and Production Exponents Incorporated (TAPE Inc.) and the “anti-Sottos.”
“My film, ‘The Rapists of #PepsiPaloma’ is not under TAPE Inc. It was not funded by Anti-Sottos, and definitely not made to clear the Sotto Connection. My film is a film. A shocking truthful revelation,” he wrote.
Yap earlier pointed out on Sunday, Dec. 29, that he didn’t have any ulterior motive in making the movie. “Pwede lang ako mapahamak sa paggawa ng pelikulang hango sa tunay na buhay — kung magsisinungaling ako. Hindi ko ipapahamak ang sarili ko, hindi ako magsisinungaling.”
Article continues after this advertisement“Wala akong personal o pulitikal na motibo, hindi kaaway ng mga Sotto ang producer ko, wala akong masamang tinapay sa TVJ,” he continued. “Si Pepsi Paloma ay Taga-Olongapo, tulad ko. Responsibilidad kong ibandera ang kwento ng aking lungsod at mamamayan nito.”
(I can only get into trouble in creating a movie based on true-to-life events if I lie. I’m not going to get myself into trouble. I’m not going to make something based on lies. I don’t have any personal or political motives. The movie’s producer is not an enemy of the Sottos. I don’t have anything bad against TVJ. Pepsi Paloma comes from Olongapo, just like me. It’s my responsibility to create a movie about my city and the people from there.)
In follow-up posts, Yap stressed that “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma” is not meant to throw accusations at anyone and instead will focus on Paloma’s life and the events surrounding the 1982 scandal.
“Kung ano lang ang nangyari, kung ano ang published at with Evidentiary Support, yun lang ang ipapakita sa Pelikula. Hindi tungkol sa TVJ ang Pelikula. Tungkol kay Pepsi (The movie will only show what happened and what was published with evidentiary support. The movie is not about TVJ but about Pepsi),” he said.
Aside from Bustamante and Alajar, the movie also stars Mon Confiado, Andres Balano Jr. and Shamaine Buencamino.
INQUIRER.net has reached out to the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), Tito Sotto, and Vic Sotto’s camps for comment, but it has yet to respond as of this writing.
