Veteran host Vic Sotto answered the press’s questions about the actors and actresses who agreed to appear in director Darryl Yap’s movie about the life of Pepsi Paloma.

In an interview with the media, Vic said that he understood that the casts of the shows were only there as part of their profession.

“Trabaho lang yun. No problem,” said Vic.

The film included some well-known and talented artists, including Gina Alajar (as Charito Solis), Sharmaine Buencamino (as Pepsi’s mother), Mon Confiado (as Dr. Rey de la Cruz), and Rosanna Roces (as Divina Valencia).

Some artists remained silent on Vic’s decision.

It can be recalled that Vic filed 19 counts of cyber libel charges against Darryl and asked the director to pay P35-M in damages.

The damages may increase if they find that the issue affected Vic’s contract.

Vic’s camp also petitioned for a writ of habeas data to prevent Darryl from publishing the movie.

Meanwhile, Darryl said he was ready to face Vic in the court.

Vic’s name was mentioned in the film’s trailer, which, according to his lawyers, affected his family, including Pauleen Luna and Tali Sotto.

The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 205, on January 9, had ordered the issuance of a Writ of Habeas Data after actor Vic Sotto filed it.

Presiding Judge Liezel Aquitan issued the petition filed by Vic Sotto on January 7.

“Finding the Petition sufficient in form and substance, let a writ of habeas data issue directing respondent Darryl Ray Spyke B. Yap to submit a verified return of the writ within five (5) days from receipt thereof in accordance with Section 10 of A.M. No. 08-1-16-SC,” the document read.

Sotto’s legal counsel, Atty. Enrique “Buko” dela Cruz of DivinaLaw said that the court’s decision would require Yap to remove all related posts about Sotto in relation to the film planning to be released by the director about the life of late actress Pepsi Paloma.

“In the meantime, po, the writ was issued, so ibig sabihin po ‘yung hinihiling namin sa writ granted. Ititigil po muna lahat nung mga postings, etc.; in the mean time, pinapasagot siya [Yap] dun sa aming reklamo,” said Dela Cruz.

Atty. Dela Cruz also cautioned the netizens to stop posting and discussing the topic on social media.

The lawyer also said that they also asked the court to stop the release of the film on February.

Keempee de Leon narrated how he made an effort to reconcile with his father, Joey de Leon, after five years of not seeing each other.

In an interview with Pep.ph, Keempee admitted that his feud with his father started when he was removed from Eat Bulaga in 2015 after 14 years of being a host in the noontime show.

According to him, he was not given any explanation as to why he was removed, which made his anger accumulate.

However, five years after not talking to his father, Keempee finally moved in January 2024 to see Joey during Father’s Day by visiting the Eat Bulaga set.

Keempee said his father couldn’t believe he would visit him to greet him on Father’s Day.

Several months after their meeting, Keempee then visited their home to attend a party.

This was where Keempee and Joey became emotional.

“Doon na ako umiyak na talagang, parang bata, hagulgol ako, hagulgol. ‘Sorry po.’ Napa-po nga ako, e. ‘Sorry po.’ Sabi ko, ‘Dy, sorry sa lahat, patawarin mo ako.’ Pati siya umiyak na rin, naghahagulgulan na kami…” said Keempee.

“Doon ko naramdaman, sabi ko, ‘Eto kami nung tatay ko. Ito yung relasyon namin talaga, yung close kami.’ Naramdaman ko ulit yung father-and-son relationship. Sa akin, yung iyak ko is more of joy. And yung peace na nagkapatawaran kami,” he added.

It’s not yet known if Keempee will return to hosting as Eat Bulaga was already under a different management.

Eat Bulaga host Vic Sotto’s camp asked Director Darryl Yap to pay up to P35-M in damages after the latter involved the comedian in his movie about the late actress Pepsi Paloma.

Sotto was accompanied by his lawyers from DivinaLaw on January 9, 2025, to file 19 counts of cyber libel against Yap before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court.

The complaint included a prayer of ₱20M for moral damages and ₱15M for exemplary damages.

The damages may increase depending on Sotto’s endorsement contracts, which would be impacted by the issue.

In an interview, Sotto said he has nothing personal against Yap, but he wanted irresponsible people on social media to be held accountable for their actions.

“Sa mga taong nagtatanong, sa aking mga kaibigan, kapamilya, a lot of people have been asking me ‘anong reaksyon mo?’ eto na po ‘yun […] eto na po ‘yung reaksyon ko,” said Sotto.

“Sabi ko nga e, walang personalan ito, I just trust in our justice system, ako ay laban sa mga iresponsable tao lalo na sa social media,” he added.

Meanwhile, Atty. Buko dela Cruz of DivinaLaw said that Yap could not hide behind artistic freedom, saying that every artist has freedom of expression unless their creation would be libelous.

“You know, we are the product of the choices we made,” said Atty. Dela Cruz. “Walang proteksyon na ibinibigay ang batas sa libel, so hindi mo pwedeng gamitin ang creative license bilang depensa sa libel,”

“Malaya tayong magpahayag, malaya tayong gumawa ng pelikula and exemption lang [ay] wag kang gagawa ng libelous,” he added.