Director Darryl Yap announced that his latest film, The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma, will premiere in local cinemas on February 5. The announcement coincided with the release of the film’s trailer on Yap’s Facebook page on January 21.
The trailer opens with Rhed Bustamante, who plays the late sexy actress Pepsi Paloma, walking alone with smudged makeup. In a voiceover, she expresses desperation about her struggle to make ends meet. Shamaine Buencamino portrays her mother, delivering an emotional outburst about inhumane treatment.
The clip also features interviews with Paloma’s mother and brother, blending fictional scenes with real-life accounts. Yap captioned the trailer, “THE TRAILER OF THE TRUTH,” in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Paloma’s death, adding, “February 5, cinemas only.”
The cast includes notable actors such as Gina Alajar, Mon Confiado, Beverly Salviejo, and Rosanna Roces.
The film’s release comes amid a legal dispute between Yap and veteran TV host Vic Sotto, following a teaser that implicated Sotto as one of the alleged assailants of Paloma. Sotto has filed 19 counts of cyber libel against Yap and a petition for the writ of habeas data to remove references to his name in the film’s promotions.
Yap’s camp sought a gag order, which was granted by the court, and also filed a motion to consolidate the habeas data petition and the cyber libel complaint. However, the court denied the motion.
