The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) asked the distributor for director Darryl Yap’s film “Pepsi Paloma” to get legal clearance as requirement for review.
The MTRCB denied that the film is currently being reviewed by the board, contrary to the statement of Yap.
On Jan. 28, Yap posted on Facebook that “our film is now being reviewed by MTRCB.”
“Contrary to a false claim, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) hereby serves notice that the Pepsi Paloma movie is currently not under review due to incomplete requirements,” the MTRCB said in a statement issued on Jan.. 29 and signed by Paulino Cases Jr., vice chairperson and chairperson of the Hearing and Adjudication Committee.
Darryl Yap and Rhed Bustamante as Pepsi Paloma (Photos from Darryl Yap's Facebook account)
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) logo (Photo from MTRCB's Facebook account)
It said the distributor of the film, PinoyFlix Films and Entertainment Production, needs to get clearance of no pending cases from the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court, Department of Justice and Office of the City Prosecutor in Muntinlupa.
“To set the record straight, the MTRCB Registration Unit could not accept the materials submitted by the representative of Pinoyflix because the Legal Affairs Division required the distributor to provide three specific requirements such as Certificate or Clearance of No Pending Criminal, Civil, or Administrative Case from the Regional Trial Court, the Department of Justice, and the Office of the City Prosecutor,” the MTRCB said.
It added, “As part of the standard review process, the MTRCB Legal Affairs Division has formally communicated with the film's distributor, PinoyFlix Films and Entertainment Production, with regard to the missing requirements.”
“This is to ensure that there will be no violation of the P.D. 1986 and its Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR). The MTRCB is composed of 30 Board Members, the Vice Chairperson and the Chairperson,” according to the MTRCB.
It said, “All applications are reviewed by a committee comprising three board members and a second review committee, composed of five members, if warranted. Each film undergoes a rigorous and meticulous review process that evaluates every detail against the standards set by Presidential Decree No. 1986.”
The MTRCB warned that it “will not tolerate any misinformation or false narrative that seek to discredit the Agency and undermine its mandate to protect the public interest. Any attempt to deliberately mislead the public will be dealt with in accordance with the law.”
Reacting to the letter by the MTRCB to the distributor, Yap posted on Facebook, “Ang Kapalaran ng #TROPP #TROPP2025 The Rapists of #PepsiPaloma.”
In a decision dated Jan. 24, the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 205 allowed Yap to release the film.
“The respondent [Yap], however, is allowed to proceed with the production and eventual release of the film ‘The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma,’” the court ruled on the petition for writ of habeas data filed by Vic Sotto against Yap.
The court ordered Yap to remove and delete the teaser video of the film, which mentioned Sotto’s name, from online platforms and social media.
Sotto also filed a P35-million cyber libel complaint against Yap because of the teaser video.
For Philippine cinemas, the title of the film was changed from “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma” to “Pepsi Paloma.”
The MTRCB is headed by Chairperson Lala Sotto-Antonio, the daughter of former senator Tito Sotto.
The statement of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board about the "Pepsi Paloma" film (Photos from MTRCB's Facebook account)
The letter of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board to the distributor of the "Pepsi Paloma" film (Photo from Darryl Yap's Facebook account)
