Darryl Yap to face trial after 'not guilty' plea in Vic Sotto's case

MANILA, Philippines — Director Darryl Yap pleaded not guilty to the cyberlibel charges filed against him by actor Vic Sotto.

Yap entered his plea during his arraignment before a Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court on Tuesday, June 3, according to his lawyer, Raymund Fortun.

By pleading not guilty, the Rules of Criminal Procedure dictate that the trial for the accused will proceed.

Fortun told reporters that the next hearing for the case will take place on August 19.

Charges. On March 17, Muntinlupa prosecutors filed two counts of cyberlibel against Yap, stating there is prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction for the crime related to the publication of the teaser of his movie “Rapists of Pepsi Paloma.”

The case stemmed from the movie’s teaser released on January 1, which branded Sotto as a rapist. 

Sotto filed 19 counts of cyberlibel against the director on January 9, seeking a total of P35 million in damages. This includes P15 million in exemplary damages to discourage similar future offenses and P20 million in moral damages for the public ridicule caused by the film’s social media teasers.

Cyberlibel, as defined under the Cybercrime Prevention Act, applies the Revised Penal Code’s definition of libel to offenses committed over the internet.