Darryl Yap pleads not guilty in Vic Sotto’s cyberlibel case

Darryl Yap. Photo from his Facebook page

Darryl Yap entered a not-guilty plea to two counts of cyberlibel filed against him by veteran actor and TV host Vic Sotto in connection with the controversial teaser of “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma” (TROPP). 

Yap’s legal counsel, Atty. Raymond Fortun, confirmed his client’s plea to the press after the arraignment at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 203 on Tuesday, June 3.

Atty. Fortun shared that a mandatory mediation conference is set to take place to discuss the possibility of settlement before the first hearing scheduled for August 19.

“There’s always room for settlement. There’s always room for parties to reconcile and what’s important is the willingness of each party to return to things that were previously peaceful,” he said. 

Sotto’s lawyer, Atty. Enrique Dela Cruz, on the other hand, said that he and his client have yet to discuss the amicable settlement.

“The last time we spoke, he said, let’s proceed to trial. Let the courts decide,” he shared.

Yap was charged with violations of Articles 353 and 355 (libel) of the Revised Penal Code, in connection with the violation of the cybercrime law. 

The Muntinlupa court initially issued an arrest warrant against Yap on March 19. However, the director preemptively posted bail totaling ₱20,000—₱10,000 for each count—leading the court to “recall” the warrant.

The case stemmed from the 19 counts of cyberlibel complaints filed by Sotto last January, where he alleged that Yap’s teaser portrayed him as the supposed rapist of the late ’80s sexy star, Pepsi Paloma. 

The teaser dramatized an exchange between actress Gina Alajar, playing Charito Solis, and Rhed Bustamente, portraying the late young Paloma, that allegedly implied that Sotto raped the latter.

Three years after the alleged rape, Paloma died at her own home in Quezon City. /edv