Tito Sotto has finally opened up about his and the rest of the <a href="https://www.dzrh.com.ph/post/maine-mendoza-paolo-ballesteros-jose-manalo-resign-in-tape" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dabarkads</a>' <a href="https://www.dzrh.com.ph/post/tito-vic-and-joey-announce-departure-from-tape-inc." target="_blank" rel="noopener">departure</a> from the long-standing program Eat Bulaga!, produced by Television and Production Exponent (TAPE) Inc.
In April, Sotto broke his silence on the controversies surrounding Eat Bulaga!, stating that the alleged "rebranding" was due to declining profits and several co-hosts being asked to resign from the 44-year-old show.
In an interview, Sotto disclosed that they decided to leave on May 31 when the management decided to stop airing live episodes.
"Nagulat kami nung hindi na raw magla-live, ayaw magpa-live. Sabi raw ng chairman [Romeo Jalosjos] hindi raw pwede mag-live. Parang hindi ganun kadali 'yun, may mga violations sa Department of Labor 'yun kung tutuusin, 'yung tinatawag na lockdown bigla, hindi mo pinagtrabaho 'yung mga nagtatrabaho sa'yo nang walang notice," Sotto explained.
"So biglang naisip namin, siguro ito na 'yung bendisyon ng Panginoon na magdesisyon tayo. So kung mapapansin mo, medyo nangapa kami ng sasabihin sa gusto naming sabihin, pero nadeliver namin 'yung message, which is we are disengaging with TAPE Inc," he added.
The situation escalated due to a series of decisions made by the higher-ups, such as replacing popular segments with newer ones and implementing salary cuts for all employees.
As questions regarding the ownership of Eat Bulaga! arose, Sotto clarified that the live episodes posted on their social media accounts are copyrighted by the production staff, preventing any tampering from the management's end.
"Hindi nila pag-aari 'yun, pag-aari 'yun ng production namin, personal na pag-aari ng mga empleyado. Atsaka 'yung mga portion na iniwan namin, nakapangalan sa mga empleyado namin 'yun, 'yung mga nag-imbento sila may ari ng copyright," he explained.
Following their departure, TAPE Inc. <a href="https://www.dzrh.com.ph/post/tape-inc-issues-statement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> an official statement acknowledging the unfortunate development but emphasizing that life must go on.
Eat Bulaga! first aired in 1979 and has since aired over 13,000 episodes. Apart from Tito, Vic, and Joey, other celebrities like Paolo Ballesteros,

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'Nagulat kami nung hindi na raw magla-live' Tito Sotto reveals reasons for exiting Eat Bulaga!