GMA Senior Vice President Annette Gozon-Valdes, Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon. Image: screengrab from YouTube/GMA Integrated News, Instagram/@eatbulaga1979
GMA Network Senior Vice President Annette Gozon-Valdes asserted that the network did not take sides in the dispute between “Eat Bulaga” hosts Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, and production company TAPE Inc., saying they were “hands off” on the matter because it was an “internal issue.”
Gozon-Valdes spoke up about this through an exclusive interview with GMA reporter Nelson Canlas on Friday, June 2, revealing that they had no knowledge about the conflicts within the noontime show until it circulated on social media and were reported by news outlets.
“It was beyond our control. Kung may kontrol lang tayo, kung may say lang tayo sa nangyayari, syempre hindi natin sila papakawalan—ayun ‘yung term nila—pipigilan natin sila, susubukan natin gawin ang lahat para magstay sila sa atin,” she spoke of TVJ.
(It was beyond our control. If we had control or say over what’s happening, we wouldn’t let them go—as what they call it—we would have stopped them and tried everything we could for them to stay.)
“Kaya lang sa totoo, hands off ang GMA dyan kasi it was an internal issue between TVJ and TAPE Inc.,” she added. “It wasn’t right for us na makialam.” (But the reality is GMA was hands off on the matter because it was an internal issue between TVJ and TAPE Inc. It was not right for us to interfere.)
Gozon-Valdes then clarified that the network’s block-time contract is with TAPE and not with the noontime show’s hosts. She further noted that the said contract—which states that the production company “can change hosts and reformat”—was negotiated by “Eat Bulaga” producer Tony Tuviera.
“From the start, wala talagang kinampihan ang GMA dito (GMA has not taken sides). Katulad nga ng sinabi ko (As what I’ve said), it was their internal issue; it wasn’t a corporate issue,” she stressed.
The GMA executive also assured that the network’s relationship with TVJ as well as other former “Eat Bulaga” hosts will remain, and that the network is open to working with them in other projects.
“I fervently believe that it won’t change because iba naman ang GMA, iba ‘yung TAPE. Labas ang GMA sa issues nila with TAPE,” she said. “Hindi naman sila umalis ng GMA, umalis lang sila do’n sa show na pino-produce ng TAPE.”
(I fervently believe that [our relationship] won’t change because GMA is different from TAPE. GMA has nothing to do with their issues with TAPE. [TVJ] did not leave GMA; they left the show that is being produced by TAPE.)
Gozon-Valdes added that Sparkle GMA Artist Center, the talent management arm of the network, is prepared to provide artists for “Eat Bulaga” should TAPE ask.
TVJ announced their departure from TAPE last May 31. Tito later disclosed that they only came up with the decision to “disengage” from the production company moments prior to the announcement, as TAPE forbade them from airing live episodes that day. /ra