TAPE execs slapped with nearly P38M estafa charges by GMA
TAPE executives Romeo Jalosjos Jr. (second from left) and Bullet Jalosjos (far right). with “Tahanang Pinakamasaya” hosts Buboy Villar, Paolo Contis and Isko Moreno. File image from TAPE
Over a year after its noontime blocktime show “Tahanang Pinakamasaya” went off-air, Television and Production Exponents, Inc. (TAPE) and its executives are facing a criminal complaint filed by GMA Network for allegedly misusing nearly ₱38-million in advertising revenues.
The complaint, lodged before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Quezon City, charges the TAPE officers with estafa through abuse of confidence.
In its official statement on Thursday, GMA said that the funds amounting to ₱37,941,352.56 was not remitted despite repeated demands and was instead used for TAPE’s operating expenses, allegedly violating the terms of the trust arrangement.
“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,” read the statement in part.
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“GMA Network is pursuing legal action to hold the responsible officers accountable and to recover the misappropriated amount,” the network’s statement further read.
Named in the complaint are former TAPE president and CEO Romeo Jalosjos, Jr., chairman Romeo Jalosjos, Sr., treasurer Seth Frederick “Bullet” Jalosjos, current CEO Malou Choa-Fagar, former SVP for Finance Michaela Magtoto, and finance consultant Zenaida Buenavista.
GMA is seeking to hold the TAPE executives accountable and recover the full amount through legal action.
INQUIRER.net reached out to TAPE but has yet to receive a statement as of this writing.
TAPE, GMA, and ‘Eat Bulaga’
The complaint came more than a year after the noontime show “Tahanang Pinakamasaya,” which TAPE put up as replacement for “Eat Bulaga,” went off air after just nine months in operation.
TAPE was forced to come up with a new title for its noontime blocktime slot after the Court of Appeals ruled that comedic trio Tito and Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon (TVJ) are the rightful owners of the trademark of “Eat Bulaga.”
TVJ had then just resigned from TAPE due to management issues, and together with the rest of the “Eat Bulaga” cast, eventually transferred to TV5. At the time, TVJ reiterated that they had no ill feelings toward GMA and that their issues were only with the Jalosjos-led company.
Meanwhile, “Tahanang Pinakamasaya” hosts led by Isko Moreno and Paolo Contis continued to helm the show on GMA.
As of May 2025, TVJ’s “Eat Bulaga!”continues to air on TV5, while TAPE’s “Tahanang Pinakamasaya” concluded its original programming in March 2024 due to low ratings. /edv
