GORGY RULA
Tuloy ba ang pagpapalabas ng kontrobersiyal na pelikula ni Direk Darryl Yap na The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma sa local cinemas sa Pebrero 5, 2025, Miyerkules?
Ang Facebook post ni Direk Darryl nitong Enero 28, Martes: “Nagpasalamat na po ako sa husgado for protecting my rights of artistic expression and the public’s right to the truth.
“The teaser is just a micro-part of my movie.
“I have been allowed to release the whole movie.
“For that, i am deeply humbled and profoundly blessed
“Our film is now being reviewed by MTRCB.
“Thanks!”
Read: Pepsi Paloma movie ni Darryl Yap, hindi pa tapos?
MTRCB NOT YET REVIEWING PEPSI PALOMA MOVIE
Ngayong Enero 29, Miyerkules ng umaga, ay naglabas ang MTRCB ng pahayag tungkol sa pelikulang Pepsi Paloma.
Nilinaw ng MTRCB na hindi tooong nirerebyu na ng ahensiya ang pelikula ni Yap.
Hindi raw nila tinanggap ang mga isinumiteng materyales sa kanila dahil humihingi pa ang legal affairs division ng MTRCB ng mga certificate at clearance na nagsasabing walang nakabinbing mga kaso ang pelikula.
Ayon sa MTRCB: “Taliwas sa maling pahayag, nilinaw ng MTRCB na ang pelikulang Pepsi Paloma ay HINDI TOTOONG kasalukuyang nirerebyu dahil hindi pa kumpleto ang mga kinakailangang requirements na isinumite ng PinoyFlix.
“Binibigyan linaw ng Ahensiya na HINDI TINANGGAP ng MTRCB Registration Unit ang mga materyales na isinumite ng kinatawan ng Pinoyflix sapagkat hiningan ng MTRCB Legal Affairs Division ang nasabing distributor ng Sertipiko o Clearance na Walang Nakabinbing Kasong Kriminal mula sa Regional Trial Court, Sertipiko o Clearance na Walang Nakabinbing Kasong Sibil mula sa Department of Justice, at Sertipiko o Clearance na Walang Nakabinbing Kasong Administratibo mula sa Office of the City Prosecutor.
“Bilang parte ng standard review process ng Ahensiya, nakipag-ugnayan kahapon ang Legal Affairs Division sa distributor upang ipabatid ang mga kulang na requirements.
“Ginagawa ito ng MTRCB upang masiguro na ang lahat ng pelikula ay naaayon sa Presidential Decree No. 1986 at sa mga patakaran nito.
"Binubuo ang MTRCB ng 30 Board Members, isang Vice Chairperson, at isang Chairperson.
"Ang bawat aplikasyon ay dumaraan sa isang tatlong-miyembrong komite, at kapag kinakailangan, sa ikalawang pagsusuri na binubuo naman ng limang miyembro.
“Ang MTRCB ay naninindigan na hindi nito ipagsasantabi ang maling impormasyon at anumang paninirang maaaring makasira sa reputasyon at mandato nitong protektahan ang interes ng publiko.
"Ang anumang sadyang pagpapakalat ng maling impormasyon ay aaksyonan alinsunod sa batas.”
Ang nasabing pahayag ay nilagdaan ni Atty. Paulino E. Cases Jr., MTRCB vice-chairperson and chairperson of the Hearing and Adjudication Committee.
Ang MTRCB ay pinamumunuan ni Lala Sotto-Antonio, anak ni former Senate President Tito Sotto at pamangkin ng veteran TV host-comedian na si Vic Sotto.
Hindi maiwasang isipin ng iba na maaaring pumasok ang conflict of interest sa isyu ng The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma dahil sa kaugnayan ni Chair Lala sa kanyang ama at tiyuhin, na posibleng nabanggit sa kontrobersiyal na pelikula ni Darryl Yap.
May nakahain ding reklamo si Vic laban kay Darryl kaugnay ng pelikula.
Read: Muntinlupa court issues gag order in Vic Sotto vs Darryl Yap case
NOEL FERRER
Facebook post ni Atty. Jesus Falcis nitong Enero 28, Martes, “WHY DID DARRYL YAP LOSE THE WRIT OF HABEAS CASE?
“I have read the full 20-page decision of the Muntinlupa Court by Judge Liezel Aquiatan. There seems to be three main reasons why Darryl Yap lost the teaser-trailer case:
“1. Vic Sotto argued his right to privacy, specifically the right to informational privacy. He was able to emphasize that the case filed by Pepsi Paloma against him was dismissed in 1982. He was able to present a printout of a news article reporting the dismissal. “Thus, he is entitled to control the information coming out about him as regards to the dismissal of the case and whether he can be portrayed as a rapist or not by the teaser of Darryl Yap.
“2. Pauleen Luna testified to back up Vic Sotto's arguments, specifically focusing on the harms that the teaser-trailer wrought on their family — consisting of death threats, harassment, and negative comments — and especially their 7-year old daughter — who was suffering from bullying and online harassment.
“Thus, the nexus between the violation of the right to privacy and the right to life, liberty, and/or security was established — which would entitle Vic Sotto to the Writ of Habeas Data.
“3. Most importantly, the reason why Darryl Yap lost the case is it seems that his side had weak if not inexistent arguments (unless it was omitted or not presented by the Judge in the decision accurately).
“DY, whose lawyer is Atty. Raymond Fortun, argued that he researched and based his film and the teaser-trailer on documents, on personal research in Olongapo, and the personal narratives or narration by the mom and brother of Pepsi Paloma.
“In essence, he was arguing that his film and the teaser-trailer has basis.
“Unfortunately, the Judge did not see his way because the Judge primarily ruled that DY had no basis because the teaser-trailer presented a ‘conversation between two persons who have long been dead, hence, unverifiable if this confrontation indeed took place.’
“While DY argued he interviewed the brother and mother of Pepsi Paloma, it seems he never argued that the teaser-trailer scene was based on the interviews and testimony of the family of Pepsi Paloma.
“He never argued that films based on real life stories are allowed some extent of creative liberties.
“But most importantly, he never argued that while the rape case filed by Pepsi Paloma against Vic Sotto was dismissed — the truth is still that Vic Sotto was accused by Pepsi initially.
“And that before filing the case, Pepsi Paloma was probably asked by the people around her such as Charito Solis if indeed she was accusing Vic Sotto of rape.
“Anyways, may appeal or motion for reconsideration pa naman all the way up to the Supreme Court.
“Pero ngayon pa lang, Round 1 pa lang, talo na si Darryl Yap.
“Pano pa kaya sa cyber libel case? Pano pa kaya sa MTRCB? Pano pa kaya pag pinublish nya yung film sa Youtube or some other platform sa internet (to bypass the MTRCB)?
“Iniwan sya ng consistent na backer nya and supporter - Vic Del Rosario refused to produce the movie. Iiwan din kaya sya sa ere ng totoong producer nya (na ayaw pa i-reveal hanggang ngayon)?
“Abangan ang susunod na kabanata!”
Read: Muntinlupa court orders takedown of Pepsi Paloma teaser video
JERRY OLEA
Nag-post si Direk Darryl Yap ng MENSAHE NG PASASALAMAT sa Facebook bago niya ini-announce na kesyo nirerebyu na ng MTRCB ang pelikula niyang The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma (TROPP).
Aniya, “hindi pa rin po ako maaaring magbigay ng tuwirang pahayag sa usaping legal ngunit nais ko pong ipaabot ang aking pasasalamat sa mga nagpapahayag ng kanilang suporta at nananalangin para sa kapakanan ng pelikula.
“Dahil po sa inyong dasal at pagsubaybay, Itinuturing po naming mahalagang balita ang pagkakaroon natin ng legal na pahintulot upang maipalabas ang ating pelikula.
“next step naman po namin ay magpareview sa MTRCB, susunod po tayo sa mga pamantayan kahit gaano ito kabusisi. Maghintay lamang po tayo.
“Sa mga kababayan ko sa abroad na nagnanais na bilhin at ipalabas ang TROPP sa USA, JAPAN, HK, EUROPE atbp., yan po ay sekondarya lamang sa aming isip sa ngayon, sapagkat prayoridad po ang pagpapalabas sa Pilipinas at sa mga kausap nang streaming platform, gayunpaman, Maraming Salamat po sa pagpapahalaga, darating din po tayo dyan.
“Salamat po sa pakiisa at pagtangkilik, parating na po si Pepsi Paloma”
Napag-alaman ng PEP Troika na kaya tinanggap ng isang kilalang artista ang role nito sa The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma ay dahil hindi raw against kina Tito, Vic & Joey ang nasabing movie.
Read: Darryl Yap nag-ingay agad with The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma teaser
LETTER TO DISTRIBUTOR OF PEPSI PALOMA MOVIE
Matapos mapabalita ngayong Enero 29, Miyerkules ng umaga, ang latest statement ng MTRCB kaugnay sa pagre-review sa Pepsi Paloma movie, inilabas ni Direk Darryl sa kanyang FB account ngayon ding Wednesday morning ang letter ng MTRCB dated January 28, 2025, para sa distributor ng The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma.
Base sa liham, ang distributor ng kontrobersiyal na pelikula ay si Jose R. Olinares Jr., presidente ng PinoyFlix Films and Entertainment Production.
Ang liham ay tungkol sa Request for Certificate / Clearance of No Pending Case in the Application involving the film Pepsi Paloma:
Ang nilalaman ng liham: “Dear President Olinares:
“Greetings from the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB)!
"We write in relation to your application for permits to exhibit with the MTRCB for the film Pepsi Paloma.
“Considering the controversies surrounding the aforementioned film, and in view of Section 3(c), Paragraph VII of the Presidential Decree No. 1986 (PD. No, 1986) which explicitly prohibits the exhibition of materials that pertain to a matter sub-judice in nature, the Board, prior to the review of any material related to the said film, hereby request a Certificate/Clearance of No Pending Criminal, Civil, or Administrative Case lodged or filed under the following jurisdiction:
"1. Regional Trial Court, Muntinlupa City;
"2. Department of Justice, Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila; and
"3. Office of the City Prosecutor, Muntinlupa City.
“We clarify, however, that this is not a prohibition for exhibition nor an outright pre-judgment of the contents of the film, we just need to ensure that there will be no violation of the P.D. No. 1986 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).
“Should you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us at legal@mtrcb.gov.ph or (632) 8376-7380. We hope for your continued support in our commitment to ensure any questions dout hesiate to quality motion pictures that reflect Filipino values and address the ever-evolving needs of our people.
“Very truly yours, “ATTY. ANNA FARINAH B “MINDATANO, REB, MPA
“Chief, Legal Affairs Division”
Nag-comment si Direk Darryl, “Narito ang liham ng MTRCB sa aming distributor; nawa’y maipaliwanag ng mga may alam sa batas. Maraming Salamat.”
Read: Pelikula ni Darryl Yap base sa kuwento ng pamilya ni Pepsi Paloma
RESTORED VERSION OF VIRGIN PEOPLE
Siyangapala, streaming sa VMX ang restored version ng pelikulang Virgin People (1984) ni Direk Celso Ad. Castillo, na tinampukan nina Pepsi Paloma, Myrna Castillo, Janet Bordon, Ernie Garcia, at Joonee Gamboa.
Sa closing credits ay credited si Dr. Rey dela Cruz bilang Press Relation Officer.
Palabas din ang censored version ng Virgin People sa YouTube channel ng ABS-CBN Star Cinema.
NAKED ISLAND
Nasa Facebook page naman ng Regal Entertainment, Inc. ang 1984 Regal movie na Naked Island (Butil-Ulan), sa direksiyon ni Boots Plata.
Sa pelikulang ito nagkasama sina Pepsi Paloma at Charito Solis.
Nasa cast din nito sina Sarsi Emmanuelle, Coca Nicolas, Al Tantay, Myra Manibog, Lito Anzures, Lito Gruet, Mario Escudero, at Vangie Labalan.
Putol ang mga mapangahas na eksena ng Naked Island sa FB page ng Regal.
Sana, mag-streaming din sa VMX ang uncensored version ng Naked Island.
Take note na nasa VMX din ang 1985 Regal movie na Scorpio Nights starring Anna Marie Gutierrez, Daniel Fernando and Orestes Ojeda, sa direksyon ni Peque Gallaga.
Nasa VMX din ang 1998 Regal movie ni Rosanna Roces na Curacha, Ang Babaeng Walang Pahinga, sa direksyon ni Chito S. Roño.
Nasa Curacha rin sina Lito Legaspi, Mike Magat, Richard Bonnin, Jaclyn Jose, Ara Mina, Ruby Moreno, Lucita Soriano, Maureen Mauricio, Dick Israel, Roy Alvarez, at Tito Arevalo.