Vic Sotto

Other ventures

Sotto is a product endorser. In 2024, he was the first and only official brand ambassador of PlayTime PH, a licensed online gambling corporation.^[8] Sotto also produced films and television programs under his production company, M-Zet Productions. These include Okay Ka, Fairy Ko! (1987–1997),^[9] 1 for 3 (1997–2001), Daddy Di Do Du (2001–2007), Ful Haus (2007–2009),^[10] Vampire ang Daddy Ko (2013–2016),^[11] Hay, Bahay! (2016–2017),^[12] Daddy’s Gurl (2018–2023),^[13] and Open 24/7 (2023–2024).^[14]

Pepsi Paloma gang rape case

In 1982, the 15-year-old actress Pepsi Paloma accused Sotto and fellow comedians Joey de Leon and Richie D'Horsie of gang raping and taking photos of her on June 21 in a room at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City. On July 31, Paloma's manager Rey Dela Cruz lodged a formal complaint with Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile. On August 18, Paloma filed charges of rape and acts of lasciviousness against the three television personalities before the Quezon City fiscal's office.^[24] The crime of rape at the time, carried the death penalty in the Philippines, and to prevent his brother from being sent to the electric chair, Tito Sotto quickly went to see Paloma while she was still securing the services of attorney Rene Cayetano. According to Paloma, Tito Sotto pressured her into signing an "Affidavit of Desistance" to drop the rape charges against his brother and cohorts^[25]—Tito Sotto had allegedly placed a pistol on the table in front of Paloma when he went to talk to her.^[26]

In exchange for the dismissal of the charges of rape, Vic Sotto, de Leon and D'Horsie issued a public apology to Paloma:

We hope that you will not allow the error we have committed against you to stand as a stumbling block to that future which we all look forward to. We therefore ask you to find it in your heart to pardon us for the wrong which we have done against you.^[27]

Despite the suspects' earlier apology, Tito Sotto has maintained his position against any involvement in the whitewashing of the rape case and alleges that the scandal was a gimmick by Paloma's party for publicity. Again, in spite of a live apology issued to the people, Sotto said that he was not involved as a perpetrator in the rape of Paloma and he denied using his position in government to influence the court decision. Sotto became Vice Mayor in Quezon City in 1988 before being elected as a Senator in 1992.^[28][29] In 2018, Sotto requested The Philippine Inquirer to remove published articles available online mentioning the Pepsi Paloma Case, claiming them to be "fake news"^[30] and damaging to his current reputation as a Senator.^[31][32]

In May 1985, Paloma was found dead in an apparent suicide, though evidence suggests this was actually murder in order to prevent her from testifying against Sotto in court.^[33] Dela Cruz was murdered years later.^[34]

In January 2025, a Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court granted Sotto's petition and issued a writ of habeas data. The prerogative writ ordered the censorship of portions of the Pepsi Paloma promotional teaser trailer and at the same time required respondent Darryl Yap to submit an answer.^[35] On Cristy FerMinute, lawyer Enrique "Buko" V. Dela Cruz, Jr. said that Sotto's daughter was bullied in school because of Yap's alleged defamation.^[36] Sotto thereafter filed 19 cyber libel cases against Yap with the Muntinlupa Court, regarding the showing of The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma teaser trailer which mentioned Sotto's name.^[37] On January 24, the Court ordered Yap to delete his 26-second teaser video from all online video platforms and social media.^[38]

Film

Television