Daven Tamayo

Harapan 2025: Tito Sotto says Pepsi Paloma issue was just 'showbiz gimmick'

Article (news)

RG Cruz

Dennis Gasgonia

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Former Senate President Vicente Sotto III claimed that the Pepsi Paloma issue linking his brother, actor Vic Sotto, was just a &quot;showbiz gimmick&quot; from many years ago.The issue is the topic of Darryl Yap&#x27;s Yap&#x27;s &quot;The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma&quot; movie wherein the director made references to Vic&#x27;s alleged involvement in the supposed rape case.But Sotto, who is gunning for a comeback in the Senate in the 2025 elections, maintained that their family long moved on from the issue because &quot;they know where it really began.&quot;Sotto does not think this issue will affect his candidacy.&quot;Well, hindi po. Kasi alam ko po ang pinagmulan niyan. It was a showbiz gimmick 42 years ago,&quot; said the former senator. &quot;So, kaya nga, sa tagal-tagal ng panahon na wala namang problema sa brother ko yan, meron lang nakaisip gumamit siguro ngayon yan, baka pera pinag-uusapan yan or mayroong gustong siraan. Yun lang ang pupuntahan yan. Talaga naman  ika nga&#x27;y sa amin yan  eh matagal na namin binasura.&quot;&quot;Sapagkat alam naman namin kung ano pinagmulan yan. Gustong makasingil ni (talent manager) Rey de la Cruz doon sa guesting ng mga artists niya na hindi nakasingil. Kaya yun ang pinagsimulan talaga nun, wala nang iba.&quot; Vic filed 19 counts of cyber libel against the Yap in relation to the movie.The case stemmed from what Vic described as &quot;malicious and defamatory statements&quot; in the first teaser of Yap&#x27;s film. It was posted January 1 and immediately went viral after a teaser mentioned Vic&#x27;s name and connected him to the alleged rape of Paloma.He sought the issuance of a writ of habeas data last January 7, prompting the court to order Yap to take down the teaser video of the movie on all online platforms.

Former Senate President Vicente Sotto III has claimed that the Pepsi Paloma issue linking his brother, actor Vic Sotto, was merely a "showbiz gimmick" from many years ago.

Former Senate President Vicente Sotto III has claimed that the Pepsi Paloma issue linking his brother, actor Vic Sotto, was merely a "showbiz gimmick" from many years ago.