MANILA, Philippines — Big trouble is happening between two big names on TV: GMA Network and TAPE Inc. GMA says TAPE still owes them a huge amount of money — and they’re not happy about it.
Here’s what’s going on in simple terms:
TAPE Inc., a company that used to air one of the country’s most popular shows on GMA, was supposed to pay GMA for using airtime — that’s the time their show was shown on GMA’s channel. The total unpaid amount? A huge ₱37.9 million!
To fix the problem, both sides went to a meeting called mediation — that’s like a sit-down talk to find a solution before things go to court.
TAPE did offer to pay GMA some money, but it wasn’t even close to the full amount. So GMA said “No deal!”.
Now, the drama continues…
⚖️ GMA Files a Serious Complaint: “You Broke Our Trust!”
Because of what happened, GMA filed a criminal case called estafa, which means they believe TAPE lied and used the money wrongly. And not just any estafa — this one involves abuse of confidence, which is a big legal problem.
According to GMA:
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TAPE collected money from advertisers — businesses that paid to put commercials on their show.
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But instead of giving that money to GMA (like they promised in a contract signed in 2023),
TAPE used it for their own expenses, like paying bills or running their business. -
GMA sent them several letters asking for the money back, but TAPE never paid up.
🚨 What Happens Next?
Since the first meeting didn’t solve the issue, the case will now go to another government lawyer (called a prosecutor) who will start a preliminary investigation — that means they’ll study everything and decide if the case should go to trial.
The tension between GMA and TAPE Inc. is far from over. Many people are wondering:
Will GMA get their money back? Will TAPE face charges? Will this affect any of their TV shows?
