PH TV BLOG: GMA Network’s criminal complaint vs. TAPE, Inc. involving misappropriation of funds

​In a yesterday’s official statement of GMA Network, it stated that they have filed a criminal complaint for estafa with abuse of confidence against the officers of Television and Production Exponents, the company behind their former noontime show that aired on GMA 7, Tahanang Pinakamasaya (formerly known as Eat Bulaga! until January 5, 2024), for the cause of misappropriation of funds amounting to PHP 37,941,352.56.

The statement said that it filed before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Quezon City, which involves the following executives of TAPE as respondents – Romeo Jalosjos, Jr. (former President and CEO), Romeo Jalosjos, Sr. (Chairman of the Board), Seth Frederick “Bullet” Jalosjos (Treasurer), Malou Choa-Fagar (former COO and current President and CEO), Michaela Magtoto (former Senior Vice President for Finance), and Zenaida Buenavista (Finance Consultant).

While GMA Network is pursuing legal action to hold the responsible officers accountable and to recover the said misappropriated amount, the complaint stems from the respondent’s failure to remit revenues from advertising collected from clients, which had been contractually assigned to GMA under a 2023 Assignment Agreement, even the funds were not transferred to them for the purpose of using the operational expenses of TAPE, which resulted as a violation of the trust arrangement as stated in their agreement between GMA and TAPE, amidst their multiple formal demands.

Prior to this, TAPE, Inc. has been criticized on the issues involving the Eat Bulaga trademarks that were used by Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon that are seen on air through TV5 last 2023.

PHCA CID: PHCA-2025H1-8329