Filmmaker Darryl Yap has announced that his highly anticipated film, The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma, will not premiere as scheduled on February 5, 2025, due to incomplete documentary requirements from the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).
In an official statement, Yap expressed his disappointment over the delay, explaining that his team was unable to fulfill the necessary paperwork required by the MTRCB. As a result, the film’s theatrical release in the Philippines is now uncertain.
“Ipinaaabot ko po sa lahat ng nakasubaybay na bigo po ang panig ng inyong lingkod na agarang makumpleto ang mga dokumentong hinihingi ng pamunuan ng MTRCB,” Yap stated.
The director also hinted at alternative release plans, including launching the film internationally ahead of its domestic screening or opting for streaming platforms instead of a traditional cinema release.
“Pinag-iisipan na rin ang posibilidad na maunang maipalabas ito sa labas ng bansa o ipagpaliban na ang pagpapalabas sa sinehan at magpokus na lamang sa streaming platforms,” he added.
Yap assured the public that any final decisions regarding the film’s release would be announced soon.
The film, originally titled The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma, explores the controversial case of Pepsi Paloma, a 1980s actress who accused three well-known comedians—Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, and Richie D’Horsie—of sexual assault. The case became a national scandal, with the accused eventually issuing a public apology. Paloma’s untimely death in 1985, ruled as a suicide, continues to fuel speculation.
Despite its sensitive subject matter, the film has faced legal roadblocks. A teaser released earlier this year, which referenced Vic Sotto, prompted him to file a cyber libel complaint against Yap. A court ruling ordered the teaser’s removal from online platforms but allowed the production to proceed.
The project has drawn mixed reactions from the public, with some advocating for its release as a way to revisit an important chapter in Philippine showbiz history, while others, including figures implicated in the case, have sought to prevent it from seeing the light of day.
