NBI nabs PGMN founder for alleged extortion vs Romualdez
Authorities say Mabanta and four others demanded P300 million in exchange for withholding damaging online content about Martin Romualdez.
- On Tuesday, the National Bureau of Investigation arrested social media personality Franco Mabanta for allegedly extorting P300 million from House Speaker Martin Romualdez in exchange for withholding damaging online content.
- Mabanta, founder of the Peanut Gallery Media Network , allegedly threatened through an intermediary to release content linking Romualdez to corruption in the House of Representatives unless his demand was met.
- Operatives of the NBI-OTCD apprehended Mabanta and four others during an entrapment operation in Makati, where agents recovered marked money allegedly used to coordinate the transaction.
- PGMN denied the extortion claims, calling the arrest a 'setup' and asserting they had spent five months conducting 'immense, comprehensive, painful research' into alleged corruption involving Romualdez.
- Palace Press Officer Claire Castro distanced President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. from Mabanta on Wednesday, stating he is 'not a friend' of the president and noted his ties to the Dutertes.
13 Articles
13 Articles
NBI arrests social media personality for extortion try against Romualdez
MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation – Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBI-OTCD) on Wednesday said it arrested five people, including an alleged social media personality, for alleged extortion on Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez.Roberto Ma. Franco Cruz Mabanta, known founder and chairman of the Peanut Gallery Media Network, was arrested in an entrapment operation on Tuesday at a country club in Pasig Cit…
NBI entraps PR man-socmed manager over alleged ₱350-million extortion scheme
EXPLAINER: Who is Franco Mabanta?
Social media personality and political content creator Franco Mabanta has come under public scrutiny following his arrest by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), along with four others, over an alleged extortion attempt involving House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
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