Court orders Yap to submit return, sets hearing

Director Darryl Yap's legal counsel, Atty. Raymond Fortun, stated that Muntinlupa court has not issued an order to take down materials related to Yap's film 'The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma'.

Atty. Fortun confirmed the Regional Trial Court Branch 205 only directed Yap to submit a verified return within five days from receipt of the writ and set a summary hearing for January 15.

Vic Sotto, through his lawyer Atty. Enrique Dela Cruz, had requested the court to compel Yap to remove all promotional materials and cease further dissemination of content related to the film.

Fortun filed an urgent motion on Monday asking the court to consolidate cases involving the petition for a writ of habeas data and 19 counts of cyberlibel Sotto filed against Yap.

Dela Cruz agreed that there was no restraining order from the court but said Sotto's legal team would ask for clarification regarding the writ and its implications.