Who is Pepsi Paloma, and why are people talking about her?

MANILA, Philippines – Why is the late Pepsi Paloma being talked about again?

On January 9, actor and comedian Vic Sotto filed a cyber libel complaint against filmmaker Darryl Yap over the teaser for his upcoming movie, The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma.  

Vic Sotto filed a complaint with the Office of the Prosecutor in Muntinlupa City, citing that his name was explicitly mentioned in the teaser clip for the upcoming movie.

The complaint includes 19 counts of alleged violations of Section 4 of Republic Act No. 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2022. Sotto is also seeking P35 million in moral and exemplary damages.

The video, posted on January 1 on the VinCentiments Facebook page, features a character portraying Charito Solis asking Pepsi Paloma if it was true that Vic Sotto raped her. In the clip, the character of Paloma is shown saying yes to that claim.

Referencing Sotto’s name in the trailer revives his alleged connection in a 1982 case involving the late actress Pepsi Paloma, reigniting the public’s curiosity in the controversies surrounding her life and untimely death.

A brief history

Pepsi Paloma — whose real name was Delia Dueñas Smith — was a Filipino-American actress in the 1980s. According to IMBD, she was born on March 11, 1966 in Manila.

At 14, she was discovered and made her film debut in the 1982 feature Brown Emmanuelle. She then starred in several hit movies, including Virgin People (1984), Naked Island (1984), Krus sa Bawat Punglo (1982), and The Victim (1982), positioning her as a rising star in Philippine cinema.

She was also part of a young group of actresses called “soft drink beauties” — each taking a stage name from a popular soda brand. According to an Esquire report, the group was formed by talent manager Rey dela Cruz, who wanted to debut these “bold starlets” under the age of 21. They were known for playing provocative roles in soft-core porn films.

Allegations and accusations: A timeline

In 1982, Pepsi Paloma accused Eat Bulaga comedians Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, and Richie D’Horsie of gang-rape after allegedly drugging her in a hotel room. Paloma, who was 15 then, filed the case with the assistance of her manager, the late Rey dela Cruz, and lawyer Rene Cayetano.

According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the three comedians issued a public apology to Paloma, which was published in the People’s Journal on October 13, 1982. Esquire reported that the case was eventually dismissed after Paloma signed an affidavit of desistance. ABS-CBN News reported that former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, was also purportedly involved, allegedly “coercing Paloma” into signing the affidavit and dropping the case.

Paloma was found dead on May 31, 1985, in her apartment in Quezon City at the age of 18. Authorities ruled her death as “suicide by hanging,” reporting that she left behind a diary in her room which shared she was depressed because of “monetary problems.” Speculations ensued, with many questioning whether it was suicide or foul play was involved.

In a 2016 interview on radio DZMM, Tito Sotto denied any involvement in the scandal and said it was a publicty “gimmick” concocted by Paloma’s handlers. Tito Sotto said Paloma’s death was due to drug use.

The takedown

In 2018, Tito Sotto filed a request with the Philippine Daily Inquirer to remove all articles linking his name to the rape and death of the ’80s star.

In a letter dated May 29, 2018, Sotto wrote to Inquirer Interactive, Inc. president Paolo Prieto, asking them to remove “The rape of Pepsi Paloma” and “Was Pepsi Paloma murdered?” — both written by United States-based columnist Rodel Rodis and published in March 2014.

Tito Sotto also asked the Inquirer to take down a March 2016 news article on Sotto’s denial that he used his political affiliation to influence the court decision on the rape case.

In a text message to Rappler, Tito Sotto called the articles “libelous.” “I’d rather that they take it down than file charges in court,” he added.

In response, Rodis said Inquirer could set a “dangerous precedent” if it agreed to Sotto’s request. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) also denounced Sotto’s request to the Inquirer, saying it was a “brazen attempt to suppress freedom of the press and of expression.”

In June 2018, Sotto confirmed that Inquirer.net would take down the articles.

Back to the present

Fast forward to 2025, and Darryl Yap’s teaser for the movie The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma has brought the issue back into the spotlight.

Yap has also been a controversial figure in Philippine cinema, with his works sparking debates on issues of taste, censorship, sensationalism, historical revisionism, and social responsibility in media. His 2021 film Maid in Malacañang, which depicted fictionalized events during the last days of the Marcos regime, was called a “made-up Marcos movie” filled with false, misleading claims. – Rappler.com