TAPE Inc. ‘hurt’ over TVJ departure, says they own ‘Eat Bulaga’ trademark

The Jalosjos family was “hurt” following the resignation of Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey De Leon (TVJ) from their company, TAPE Inc.

Friday's "24 Oras" episode ran a sneak peek of Nelson Canlas' interview with Dapitan City mayor and spokesperson of the Jalosjos family Bullet Jalosjos, who clarified several issues surrounding TVJ's resignation from TAPE. 

He admitted, "Nasaktan kami because talagang itinuloy nila, and ang pangit pa doon, when it happened, pinapalabas nila that we kicked them out."

According to TAPE Inc,'s spokesman, "We had to stop the airing nung time na alam namin na talagang lalabas sila because we wanted to negotiate with them still.”

Jalosjos said they own Eat Bulaga’s trademark, including the show and its name, and they had papers to prove it.

“As far as the company is concerned, legally, we own the trademark, we own the show, we own the name,” he said.

He refuted what former Senate President Tito Sotto said in an interview with GMA Integrated News last April, that TVJ owns the name "Eat Bulaga." 

“Yun po yung sinabi sa akin kagabi ni dad, contrary to everything, sinabi niya, 'I approved everything. Binigyan nila ako ng listahan niyan. There were different names they thought of' but my dad chose 'Eat Bulaga'," he said.

Jalosjos asserted their rights over the name. "Hindi po naman namin pwedeng bitawan din yun. Hindi po namin pwedeng sabihin, out of respect, 'sige gamitin niyo na lang.' Hindi eh, meron po kaming rights eh.”

While Jalosjos said claims of salary deductions were simply not true — “Meron po kaming papel para ipakita yon, na even ‘til they left, wala pong nakaltaasan ng sweldo" — he admitted the show's expenses were "medyo out of control."

"We had to make a corporate decision, a business decision to negotiate — not even sink. Hindi namin sila tinanggal but to negotiate. Sabi namin pag-aralan naman natin to, mag-ano naman tayo dito, lets communicate."

Jalosjos asked the viewers to support the new hosts of the show.

“Pagbigyan niyo naman yung mga talents namin ng chance, kasi naaawa na ako sa kanila. We have a duty to fulfill to GMA and to the people, na hindi po kami pwedeng mawala lang sa ere because iniwanan lang kami ng lahat ng host.”

GMA Integrated News has been trying to reach out to TVJ for their reaction to Jalosjos' statements.

The full interview with Bullet Jalosjos will air in an upcoming episode of "Updated With Nelson Canlas." — Carby Basina/LA, GMA Integrated News