The Office of the City Prosecutor in Quezon City has dismissed the criminal complaint filed by GMA Network against several executives of Television and Production Exponents, Inc. (TAPE) for alleged misappropriation of nearly ₱37.9 million. According to the resolution, the prosecutor found no sufficient evidence to establish the elements of the crime of estafa by grave abuse of confidence.
GMA had lodged the complaint earlier this year, accusing TAPE and its officers of failing to remit advertising revenues that were contractually assigned to GMA under a 2023 agreement. The funds, said GMA, had instead been used for TAPE’s operational expenses — a move it claimed violated the arrangement.
However, the prosecutor ruled that even if TAPE did not transfer the funds, the situation appears to reflect a contractual dispute rather than a clearly defined criminal wrongdoing. According to the resolution, the complaint should have been pursued as a civil matter.
For the TAPE executives, this decision is a significant legal relief. Their lawyers have maintained all along that the alleged liability was civil in nature and that the individuals should not be held criminally liable.
Meanwhile, GMA Network has not publicly stated whether it will appeal the prosecutor’s dismissal or pursue the matter through a different legal route. The company previously rejected a settlement offer from TAPE and maintained its pursuit of full recovery.