Franco Mabanta, founder of the Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN) and a social media personality, is arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) over an alleged extortion attempt involving former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. NBI Director Melvin Matibag confirms the arrest in a statement, while the agency does not publicly provide further details on the entrapment operation. Reports describe an alleged demand of ₱300 million by Mabanta, in exchange for withholding video content that purportedly links Romualdez to corruption issues in the lower house.
Mabanta and four other individuals connected to PGMN are detained at the NBI/Bureau of Corrections in Muntinlupa after failing to post bail. The four co-accused are identified in reporting as Ericson James Pacaba, John Alexander Vasquez Gomez, and employees Jardine Christian Requio Serrano and others. Following the bail proceedings, a Pasig Regional Trial Court orders their release after they post bail of ₱120,000 each. The NBI indicates it will hold a media briefing for further updates, but specifics of the case process beyond the arrest and bail outcomes are not detailed in the reports.
