By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday said its agents have arrested five individuals, including the head of an online news aggregator site, for an alleged extortion attempt on Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez.
Acting on a complaint filed by Romualdez, the NBI-Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBI-OTCD) nabbed Roberto Ma. Franco Cruz Mabanta, founder and chairman of Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN), and four others in an entrapment operation.
Mabanta allegedly threatened the complainant through an intermediary to release online content purportedly linking Romualdez to corruption in the House of Representatives.
In exchange for withholding publication of the alleged exposé, Mabanta allegedly demanded PHP300 million, payable in four tranches of PHP75 million each.
A portion of the purported video material was allegedly sent to provide credence to Mabanta’s threat.
NBI-OTCD operatives conducted an entrapment operation after arrangements were made for the delivery of the first tranche amounting to PHP75 million.
The undercover agents posing as representatives of the complainant met with Mabanta’s group at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday at The Manila Peninsula in Makati City.
During the meeting, Mabanta reiterated his demand and instructed the agents to deliver the money at Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig City to a certain “Jimmy,” later identified as Jardine Christian Serrano.
Upon delivery of the entrapment money, Serrano and Franco Jose Gallardo received the cash and brought it to a function room inside the club, where Mabanta and two other individuals, identified as Ericson James Pacaba and John Alexander Vasquez Gomez, were waiting.
The NBI team immediately conducted the operation, leading to the arrest of Mabanta’s group and the recovery of the entrapment money from them.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the bureau remains firm in pursuing individuals who allegedly use online platforms, engage in intimidation, and employ blackmail schemes.
“Freedom of expression is protected by law, but it must never be used as a shield for extortion, intimidation, or criminal exploitation. The NBI will relentlessly pursue those who weaponize digital platforms to threaten, harass, and unlawfully profit from others,” he said in a news briefing. (PNA)
