Vic Sotto, Darryl Yap under gag order in cyber libel case

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The Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court yesterday imposed a gag order in the cyber libel case filed by actor and television host Vic Sotto against controversial film director Darryl Yap.

Sotto sued Yap last week after his name was mentioned in the teaser for the latter’e upcoming movie, The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma, which Sotto claims was released without his consent.

The gag order issued by Muntinlupa RTC Branch 205 Presiding Judge Liezl Acquiatan covers both parties in the case barring them from disclosing or discussing the proceedings and merits of the case.

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The court issued the order upon the urgent motion filed by the camp of Yap last January 10.

“The Petitioner and any person acting for and on behalf of the petitioner are enjoined from publicly disclosing or discussing the contents of the verified return to be submitted by the respondents in this case, as well as any matters learned from the proceedings of this case,” part of the court’s order said.

“All parties are directed to observe strict confidentiality in compliance with the sub judice rule, ensuring that the case proceedings and any related matters remain undisclosed to the public until resolved,” the court added.

In his petition, Yap argued there is a pressing need for a gag order to prevent the camp of Sotto from issuing and making “irresponsible statements” on the case.

The court also directed Sotto to comment within three days after receipt of a copy of the order to comment on the motion for consolidation filed by Yap’s camp on Monday.

The motion for consolidation seeks to consolidate Sotto’s petition for a writ of habeas data with his criminal complaint of cyber libel.

Sotto has filed 19 counts of cyber libel case against Yap.

He also asked the court to award him no less than P35 million in damages, broken down into P20 million for moral damages and P15 million for exemplary damages.

At the center of the cyber libel complaint is the mention of Sotto’s name in the trailer for “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma” as one of Paloma’s rapists during a confrontation scene of Gina Alajar with former child actress Rhed Bustamante.

Alajar allegedly portrays Charito Solis, while Bustamante plays Paloma, whose real name was Delia Duenas Smith. Paloma was a rising sexy actress when she was allegedly sexually abused by three showbiz personalities.

She died three years later, with the police ruling it as a suicide.

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