Controversial filmmaker Darryl Yap has petitioned the Department of Justice (DOJ) to reverse a resolution by the Muntinlupa City Prosecutor’s Office that found probable cause for two counts of cyberlibel against him. The charges stem from a teaser for his upcoming film The Rape of Pepsi Paloma.
Yap’s arraignment, which was initially scheduled for Wednesday, has been postponed to June after he filed a partial petition for review. His lawyer, Raymond Fortun, confirmed the delay.
In his appeal, Yap argued that the prosecutor’s ruling could set a harmful precedent, potentially limiting artistic and journalistic freedom by compelling creators to edit or “sanitize” historical narratives to avoid offending certain individuals.
The case was filed by veteran TV host Vic Sotto. Yap contends that the prosecutor zeroed in on the teaser rather than the entire film, which he claims actually clears Sotto of the allegations based on the script.