The Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 205, presided over by Judge Liezel Aquiatan, has ruled in favor of Vic Sotto’s habeas data petition against controversial filmmaker Darryl Yap.
Sotto filed the petition on January 7, prior to his cyber libel complaint against Yap. A writ of habeas data is a legal remedy that seeks to protect an individual from the unauthorized collection, use, or publication of personal information that may threaten their privacy.
On January 9, the court approved the petition and ordered Yap to respond within five days. The court also directed the removal of all social media posts related to Sotto that are connected to Yap’s upcoming movie, ‘The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma,’ set to be released in February.
Additionally, the court prohibited the continued promotion and publication of teaser videos, posters, and other promotional materials about the movie until further notice.
A summary hearing for the petition is set for January 15, 2025. Both Sotto and Yap are expected to present their respective pieces of evidence to determine the merits of the petition and whether it should be upheld.
Sotto’s legal action stems from the release of a teaser for Yap’s film on January 1, where Sotto’s name was mentioned, drawing significant public attention. The teaser sparked renewed discussions about a decades-old controversy involving the late actress Pepsi Paloma, which has long remained a sensitive issue.
While Yap has yet to comment publicly on the matter, Sotto has stated that he filed the petition to defend his reputation and privacy amid the increasing influence of social media.
