Naghain ng subpoena ang Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office sa ilang opisyal ng TAPE (Television And Productions Exponents), Inc., para dumalo sa isang mandatory mediation conference kaugnay ng PHP37.9-million estafa complaint na isinampa ng GMA Network.
Itinakda ang mediation conference noong May 22 at sa darating na May 29, ayon sa ulat ng 24 Oras kagabi, May 26, 2025.
Sa subpoena na inilabas noong May 9, inatasang dumalo sa mediation ang respondents na sina Romeo Jalosjos Jr., Romeo Jalosjos Sr., Seth Frederick P. Jalosjos, Michael N. Magtoto, Zenaida Buenavista, at Malou Choa-Fagar.
Nakasaad sa subpoena: "Failure to attend the mandatory mediation conferences will serve as a waiver of your right under the said Department Circular and the conduct of preliminary investigation shall proceed accordingly.”
Read: GMA Network files estafa complaint against TAPE executives
Nag-ugat ang reklamo ng GMA Network laban sa TAPE dahil sa pagkabigo umano ng huli na i-remit ang nakolekta nitong advertising revenue mula sa kanilang mga kliyente.
Base sa kanilang kontrata ay dapat mayroong mapunta sa network sa ilalim ng kanilang "2023 Assignment Agreement."
Sa halip, ginamit daw ng TAPE ang nasabing halaga para sa "operational expenses" ng kumpanya.
Bahagi ng pahayag ng GMA: "Despite multiple formal demands, the funds were not transferred to GMA because they were instead used for TAPE’s operational expenses, in violation of the trust arrangement outlined in the agreement.
"GMA Network is pursuing legal action to hold the responsible officers accountable and to recover the misappropriated amount."
Read: PHP800M Debt from OG Eat Bulaga! on GMA-7
TAPE LAWYER's STATEMENT
Hindi nakadalo ang TAPE executives noong May 22.
Ayon sa ipinadalang pahayag ni Atty. Maggie Abraham-Garduque sa GMA News Online, abogado ng TAPE, nalaman lang nila ang tungkol sa reklamo noong May 22, kaya hindi sila nakadalo sa unang mediation.
Saad niya: "On May 22, TAPE just learned of the complaint via news, and when we checked the docket section ng [Office of the City Prosecutor], wala daw po. Then, May 23, TAPE received the subpoena for mediation, kaya hindi sila naka-attend."
Tiniyak ng legal counsel ng TAPE na dadalo ang kanyang mga kliyente sa May 29.
Dito ay nakatakdang magharap ang TAPE executives at ang mga kinatawan ng GMA-7.
Ayon pa kay Garduque, magmi-meeting ang board of directors ng TAPE ngayong Martes, May 27, upang pag-usapan ang posibleng settlement sa reklamo.
"We will schedule a meeting with the board of directors of TAPE [tomorrow] to discuss the possible offer of settlement, if there is any, because this is the purpose of mediation—for parties to come up with compromise agreement to end the dispute and forego with the regular preliminary investigation in criminal cases."
Sa kabilang banda, kinumpirma ng legal counsel ng GMA na nakatanggap din sila ng kaparehong subpoena.
Pahayag ni Atty. Lynn Delfin: "We likewise received a subpoena and we will attend the mediation conference as it is part of the process. Should there be any offer of settlement from TAPE or its officers, we are open to listen to their proposal."