Actor-host Vic Sotto appeared before a Muntinlupa court on Tuesday to testify in his cyber libel case against film director Darryl Yap, his lawyer confirmed.
According to Atty. Enrique Dela Cruz, Sotto took the witness stand to address the alleged malice in Yap’s teaser for his upcoming film ‘The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma’.
The teaser, released last January 1, included a scene where Gina Alajar’s character (Charito Solis) asked the actress portraying Pepsi Paloma if she had been raped by Vic Sotto. The lead character replied, “yes.”
In his sworn judicial affidavit, however, Sotto said a draft of the film showed the teaser scene was cut short. He also pointed out that Yap previously testified that the full movie would not identify him as one of the rapists.
“The script of the movie stated that it was just a ‘publicity stunt,’ but that was not mentioned in the teaser video,” Dela Cruz told GMA News Online.
Sotto further stated that the teaser continues to cause him, his wife Pauleen Luna-Sotto, and their child to receive malicious comments and even threats of rape and violence.
Yap, who earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge of libel under Articles 353 and 355 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, has declined to comment.
The next hearing is set for September 9.
