What fund misuse? TAPE lawyer claims no estafa charge yet

Image: TAPE Inc.

Television and Production Exponents, Inc. (TAPE) has denied knowledge of any estafa complaint filed by GMA Network for allegedly misusing nearly ₱38 million in advertising revenues. 

TAPE’s legal counsel, Atty. Maggie Abraham-Garduque, told INQUIRER.net that, at the moment, there is no official complaint filed before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Quezon City against the alleged respondents.

“I called TAPE about the article published at GMA but they did not know anything about it. I directed one of the alleged respondents in said case to go to the office of the city prosecutor of Quezon City to check on the case but she was informed that no case was filed against them by GMA,” she said via Messenger.

Garduque said they were shocked by the news, as she assured that TAPE would respect the legal proceedings once they had reached them through official filing.

“They were surprised by the news article. Anyway, TAPE has not received any copy of the complaint filed against them. They will issue a statement as soon as they receive a copy of the complaint, if indeed there is. Rest assured that they will follow and respect the legal proceedings,” added the lawyer.

In its official statement earlier today, GMA accused TAPE’s top executives of estafa through abuse of confidence, alleging that the funds amounting to ₱37,941,352.56 were not remitted and were instead used for TAPE’s operating expenses.

“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.

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. /edv