TAPE execs insist ‘not criminally liable’ in GMA’s estafa complaint

Image: TAPE Inc.

The executives of TAPE Inc., who are named as respondents in the P37.9 million-estafa complaint filed by GMA network, maintained they are not criminally liable, stressing that the case is a civil liability of the production company as a corporation.

After the Kapuso network declined the production company’s settlement offer during the mediation sessions, TAPE lawyer Maggie Abraham-Garduque confirmed that the complaint will be raffled to another prosecutor who will conduct the preliminary investigation.

“The respondents still believe that they are not criminally liable because this is a civil liability of TAPE as a corporation and not the individual stockholders who are the respondents in the estafa case,” she told INQUIRER.net in reaction to GMA’s rejection of th settlement offer. 

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.

“The prosecutor who will handle the preliminary investigation will issue a subpoena setting a hearing for the filing of the counter affidavit of the respondents,” the legal counsel added.

Garduque also disclosed that TAPE offered to pay off its civil liability with a real property valued at P39 million — which is more than the claim in the case — but that “GMA denied said offer as they want more than this amount.”

“GMA wants TAPE to settle the whole amount of the airtime arrears of TAPE, but TAPE can only settle for the amount covered by the estafa case which is P38 million,” she said. 

GMA filed a complaint before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Quezon City in May, accusing TAPE of estafa through abuse of confidence. The Kapuso network alleged that the production company misused funds amounting to ₱37,941,352.56 for its operating expenses. /edv