GMA sues Jalosjos, TAPE execs for estafa
GMA Network Inc. has sued current and former executives of Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE) for allegedly misappropriating funds amounting to P37.94 million—a bitter end to a successful partnership that spanned more than three decades.
In a disclosure on Thursday, the Gozon-led media entity said it filed an estafa complaint before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Quezon City. Named respondents were former president and CEO Romeo Jalosjos Jr., chair Romeo Jalosjos Sr., treasurer Seth Frederick Jalosjos, current president and CEO Malou Choa-Fagar, former senior vice president for finance Michaela Magtoto and finance consultant Zenaida Bautista.
“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 disclosure on Thursday.
It said TAPE used the funds for its operational expenses instead of transferring them to GMA, per their agreement.
The media giant said it had sent “multiple formal demands” but to no avail.
“GMA Network is pursuing legal action to hold the responsible officers accountable to recover the misappropriated amount,” it said.
TAPE legal counsel Maggie Abraham-Garduque, as of press time, said they have not yet received a copy of the complaint.
The company would “issue a statement as soon as they receive a copy of the complaint, if indeed there is,” she added.
Partnership
TAPE used to produce popular noontime show “Eat Bulaga.” The relationship also ended with TV hosts Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey De Leon transferring to another station while pursuing a trademark case against TAPE. The trio eventually won.
With TAPE having to produce a replacement for GMA, it started “Tahanang Pinakamasaya,” which was eventually canceled.
TAPE resumed on-air and online content production, talent management and recording and film production last year.
GMA and TAPE started their partnership in 1992, with the latter producing TV series “Valiente,” starring actors Michael de Mesa, Lucita Soriano, John Arcilla and Jean Garcia, among others.
The production company is controlled by the Jalosjos family, a prominent political clan in Zamboanga del Norte.
The daughter of Jalosjos Jr., who is also former representative of Zamboanga del Norte, lost in the mayoral race in Dapitan City in the last elections.
The complaint comes on the heels of GMA’s announcement that advertising revenues dipped last year. Gilberto Duavit Jr., company president and CEO, attributed this to lower TV ratings as he raised the need to produce “more responsive” content.
In the first quarter, the Kapuso network saw some reprieve due to the influx of political advertisements ahead of the May elections. Advertising revenues for the period improved by 29 percent to P4.34 billion.
