However, the case was dismissed on October 16, 1982 after Tito Sotto reportedly visited Pepsi and she agreed to a private settlement with the parties involved in exchange for a public apology on TV.
The trio supposedly complied, although no record of that particular TV episode exists. A print ad in the October 13, 1982 edition of People’s Journal where the three asked for Pepsi’s forgiveness appears to corroborate that story. However, no mention of the word “rape” was made in the ad and that dark episode in Pepsi’s life became the stuff of urban legends. The issue eventually died but it could not silence the whispers that the starlet’s demise was somehow linked to the unfortunate rape incident.
Recently, social media brought the whole thing back to life with some netizens clamoring for “Justice for Pepsi Paloma.”
We don’t know if this is a ploy to counteract AlDub’s popularity on “Eat Bulaga!” or to embarrass Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon whose popularity has not waned through the years.
The bashers even cite the 1996 Eraserheads song “Spolarium” as a musical retelling of what happened to Pepsi.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyG9Bq10-6c
Fans claim the people mentioned in that song, namely Enteng and Joey, who wrote something in a golden mirror that was erased, are actually Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon whose “criminal records” were allegedly erased.
It all sounds good on paper but the facts say otherwise. You’d think with all the online bashing these people are doing, they’d have some time to do a little research on the Internet. Unfortunately, they prefer rumor-mongering which is not surprising since controversy sells and it makes them popular if only for a short time.
Karin Araneta, who managed the band, said that Enteng and Joey are actually Eraserheads roadies who accompanied them on their gigs and “Spolarium” is nothing more than a song about a drinking session at the 11th floor of a condo.
Sources said Pepsi’s suicide was never triggered by her earlier encounter with the “Eat Bulaga!’ hosts since the starlet had many problems at that time. Although former manager Babette Corcuerra told reporters that Pepsi’s career was taking off and she had no reason to kill herself, this was disputed by the police at the crime scene who told a different story.
A diary found at the starlet’s room revealed that she was depressed for lack of movie offers and was losing a lot of money. Pepsi also had problems with her estranged mother in Olongapo City and her live-in salesman-partner Jose S. Sanchez. Police added that Pepsi also had a history of drug use and was arrested in Bulacan with two other dancers less than a year after the celebrated rape case for indecent behavior.
Whatever happened to Pepsi is tragic and we may never know what really transpired in the last few moments of her life. We wish her next of kin well and hope the starlet finds peace wherever she is.
However, blaming those who were cleared in the rape case for her death and resurrecting an old issue for the sake of more likes and tweets doesn’t help and only shows how low and irresponsible some people can be.
The showbiz ratings game is a tough one for sure, but it should not be used as an excuse to spread lies and rumors. We deplore this practice and hope those who rant about the issue will be honest enough to admit their mistake.
