Controversial filmmaker Darryl Yap released a teaser for his upcoming film, The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma, on January 1, drawing mixed reactions from netizens. The teaser, uploaded on Yap’s Vincentiments page, features a tense exchange between characters Charito Solis (Gina Alajar) and Pepsi Paloma (Rhed Bustamante), culminating in a haunting allegation against Vic Sotto.
The 26-second clip depicts a distraught Pepsi confirming she was assaulted, with the text, “Nagsampa ng kasong rape si Pepsi Paloma laban kay Vic Sotto noong August 17, 1982,” appearing on screen. Paloma, an ’80s actress whose real name was Delia Dueña Smith, tragically died at 18 in 1985.
The teaser ignited online discussions, with some praising Yap’s bold storytelling and others criticizing the film’s potential impact on Pepsi’s family and its sensitive nature. Critics questioned the filmmaker’s intentions, with some calling the approach “disrespectful” and “insulting” to Paloma’s memory. Others expressed skepticism about Yap’s ability to handle such a delicate subject.
Yap, addressing the controversy in a social media post, emphasized his commitment to truth, stating that the film would only depict events with evidentiary support. He clarified that the story focuses on Paloma, not TVJ (Tito, Vic, and Joey), though their involvement in her case will be part of the narrative.
Scheduled for release this year, the film stars Rhed Bustamante as Pepsi Paloma, Gina Alajar as Charito Solis, Shamaine Buencamino as Pepsi’s mother, Mon Confiado as her talent manager, and Andres Balano Jr. as Richie D’Horsie.
