The late Pepsi Paloma (Delia Dueñas Smith) is one death I only knew about decades later. Delia died at only 18 years old in 1985. It would be 40 years since it happened and it's still a mystery. Right now, I feel that Daryl Yap's film The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma is simply there for box office tickets. Is it me or are exploitation films that claim to be based on the truth, really a fad? Some of the exploitation films are probably just meant for box office receipts. For example, Animal (2004) was a fictional film based on the Chiong Sisters Case. Later, the film Jacqueline Comes Home (read my review here) was supposedly based on what happened to the Chiong Sisters. Like the Chiong Sisters, it seems that nobody will really know what led Pepsi to end her life at only 18 years old.
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| Manila Bulletin |
The Manila Bulletin also shows this:
Pepsi also appeared in other sexy films, such as Virgin People and Naked Island released in 1984.In 1982, Pepsi and fellow sexy star Guada Guarin made a guest appearance in the hit comedy series "Iskul Bukol," where they met Vic Sotto, Joey De Leon, and Richie D' Horsie.It was alleged the three male stars molested Pepsi and Guada at a hotel in Quezon City, reports said.Pepsi, then 15, cried rape and filed a complaint against the male stars. However, Pepsi withdrew the case against the television hosts.A banner story titled: "No rape, says Pepsi" appeared on Tempo newspaper on Sept. 29, 1982."I was not raped," Pepsi was quoted as saying in the Tempo article. "Some people wanted to make money."Since then, controversies have continued to hound Pepsi. Reports claimed the actress became desperate.Reports added that Pepsi appeared sickly when she returned to Rey, her original talent manager. Pepsi was taken to the hospital for her confinement.On May 31,1985, Pepsi was found dead in her apartment. Police reports said the young star committed suicide by hanging herself. She was 18.Almost 40 years later, Pepsi trended again after a teaser for the movie "The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma" was released. The upcoming movie was directed by Darryl Yap.On Jan. 9, Bossing Vic filed a cyber libel complaint against Darryl over the trailer of a movie about Pepsi.Vic and his lawyers filed a complaint with 19 counts of cyber libel before the Muntinlupa regional trial court. The complaint seeks moral damages amounting to P20 million and exemplary damages of P15 million.
However, some people still continue to spread the gossip that the suspects were the ones who did it. Here's an example of what may be fake news, and may possibly need to be seen in court ASAP:
The Facebook page Silent No More PH (which I believe is spreading half-truths on purpose) spread this allegation by the Superficial Gazette. Tito Sotto ordered Inquirer to remove three articles and threatened to sue if they didn't. Right now, I assume that for any wrong that Tito, Vic, and Joey, it doesn't include the Pepsi Paloma rape allegation.
Given the Philippine justice system and media, how sureare we that every verdict and report is accurate? The late Lee Kuan Yew even called the Philippine press "rambunctious". After reading the Supreme Court decision on the Chiong Sisters--why weren't evidence further examined? Why wasn't the body allegedly Marijoy Jimenea Chiong given a DNA test? Isn't it unfair that the family doesn't get to verify the body that they claimed? Wouldn't it be better to verify if the body found in Carcar was truly Marijoy? Why weren't Paco's claims continuously reexamined?
I believe laws against exploitation films need to be passed. Exploitation films don't really care about the truth. I don't care how long it has been since Pepsi died. Her young death isn't anything to make fun of.