GMA Network's estafa complaint vs. TAPE Inc. officers junked
GMA Network’s estafa complaint against officers of Television and Production Exponents (TAPE) Inc. for alleged misappropriation of over P37 million worth of funds has been junked.
Citing an Oct. 8 resolution, GMA News Online reported that the Quezon City Officer of the City Prosecutor (OCP) dismissed the case for failure to establish prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction.
GMA News Online quoted the OCP as saying “[I]t was TAPE which was a party to said agreement with complainant, and not the respondents in their individual capacity.”
“[When TAPE failed to remit the amount of P37,941,352.56 when it had the obligation to do so under the contract, the omission may be deemed equivalent to a breach of contract, and it is TAPE which may be held liable to the complainant,” OCP added.
The network filed the complaint against the production company in May.
"The complaint stems from respondents' failure to remit advertising revenues collected from clients, which had been contractually assigned to GMA Network under a 2023 Assignment Agreement," GMA said in a statement in the same month.
The respondents named in the complaint include former TAPE President and CEO Romeo Jalosjos, Jr., chairman of the board Romeo Jalosjos, Sr., Treasurer Seth Frederick "Bullet" Jalosjos, and current president and CEO Malou Choa-Fagar as well as two other executives.
TAPE Inc. is the production company formerly behind the longest-running Philippine noontime show Eat Bulaga and the now-defunct Tahanang Pinakamasaya.
