GMA Network rejects TAPE Inc.’s settlement offer over ₱37.9M estafa complaint

• GMA Network rejected TAPE Inc.’s settlement offer during mediation over a ₱37.9 million estafa case concerning unpaid airtime fees
• GMA lawyer Lynn Delfin stated the proposed amount was “not sufficient” to cover TAPE’s full liability to the network
• TAPE offered a real estate property worth ₱39 million, but GMA declined, seeking full payment of total airtime arrears, not just the amount in the estafa complaint
• The case will proceed to a preliminary investigation, as no agreement was reached during mediation

GMA Network has officially declined Television and Production Exponents Inc.’s (TAPE Inc.) settlement proposal during mediation concerning a ₱37.941 million estafa complaint filed by the Kapuso network.

During the June 11 mediation session, both parties aimed to resolve the dispute tied to unpaid airtime fees that GMA alleges were wrongfully diverted by TAPE to cover its operational costs.

According to Mel Tiangco’s “24 Oras” report, the proposed settlement by TAPE proved “not enough” to satisfy GMA’s demands.

GMA’s legal counsel Lynn Delfin commented during the proceedings:

“Unfortunately, hindi siya sufficient for us to accept the offer of TAPE and how much they will be paying a settlement of all their liability to GMA."

Meanwhile, TAPE’s spokesperson, lawyer Maggie Abraham‑Garduque, confirmed that TAPE had offered to settle its civil liability—including a real estate asset valued at ₱39 million, exceeding the estafa claim—but alleged that “GMA denied said offer as they want more than this amount” Garduque further explained.

“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."

With no resolution reached, the matter will now be re‑raffled to another prosecutor who will oversee a preliminary investigation in Quezon City.

The complaint asserts that funds amounting to ₱37.941 million—collected from clients and contractually assigned to GMA under a 2023 agreement—were improperly allocated to TAPE’s operational expenses, constituting estafa through abuse of confidence.

News, photos or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, such could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable.

In other news, a woman was fatally shot by riding-in-tandem suspects while she was having a drink with some friends on a roadside in Sampaloc, Manila. The 30-year-old woman was killed after being shot in the nape by assailants on a motorcycle on Thursday evening, May 22. The victim’s live-in partner, a barangay tanod, sustained a gunshot wound to the knee, and another tanod was grazed in the chest after pursuing the fleeing suspects who fired additional shots. Authorities are actively investigating the identity of the perpetrators and potential motives for the attack, including whether the backrider was female and if a “love triangle” was involved.

Still in other news, a 23-year-old man suffered from physical injuries after he was allegedly assaulted by a group of young men. According to the report of GMA Regional TV, the victim, Mat Ernest Bongo brought his female co-worker home and it was thereafter that the alleged assault took place. He sustained injuries in different parts of his body. Based on the report, the victim was also allegedly robbed by the same group.

Source: KAMI.com.gh