Yap pleads not guilty to Sotto's cyberlibel charges

On Tuesday, Director Darryl Yap pleaded not guilty to cyberlibel charges filed by actor and host Vic Sotto.

Yap’s lawyer, Atty. Raymond Fortun, confirmed the plea during an arraignment at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 203.

A mandatory mediation conference is set before the first hearing scheduled for August 19 to discuss the possibility of settlement.

Sotto's legal team has yet to discuss amicable resolution and prefers proceeding with trial, allowing courts to decide.

Yap was charged under Articles 353 and 355 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 following a teaser for Yap’s film 'The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma' released on January 1.

Sotto's team has denied allegations made by Yap, which implied Sotto was involved in an alleged rape incident.

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'. Sotto filed 19 counts of cyberlibel against the director on January 9, seeking a total of P35 million in damages.