PGMN founder Franco Mabanta arrested for alleged P350-M extortion try | ANC

[0:00]The founder of a self-styled online media agency is arrested for an alleged extortion attempt on X Philippine House Speaker Martin Romalde. The National Bureau of Investigation says Franco Mabanta demanded that Romales pay him in exchange for withholding the release of a video expose on the late Congressman. Zian Ambrosi reports. Ages of the NBI organized and trans-national crime division arrested five officers and staff of the online media platform Peanut Gallery Media Network in an entrapment operation carried out in Pasig City on Tuesday night. Among those arrested was PGMN founder and chairman, vlogger Roberto Franco Mabanta. The group was accused by former House speaker Ferdinand Martin Rommaldez of allegedly attempting to extort money in exchange for not releasing an expose. Congressman Romales that, uh there's a an individual uh demanding for a certain amount in exchange for non-publication of a supposed expose containing a purported video uh portraying him as mastermind in corruption. The group allegedly demanded 300 million pesos from Romualdez to be paid in four tranches. I just got information that you were extorting money from speaker What is it you're going to do an episode about corruption? We're not excorting any money. No, I mean are you really going to do an episode about corruption? Authorities recovered 75 million pesos from the suspects, a mix of real and fake money, which was received from an NBI agent posting as PR representative of Martin Romualdez as initial payment. Mabanta was previously known as a soft drink commercial model and a VJ. He later became a social media personality. He also served as a social media director and was active in the campaign of President Ferdinand Marcus Jr. However, Malakanyang denied that the president has a personal relationship with Mabanta. He is not a friend of the President. Perhaps it would be better if you asked about this instead, since it was Franco Mabanta himself who posted it, maybe you should ask what his relationship is with the Dutertes. Harry Roque is even there in the photo. She added that anyone found violating the law must be held accountable with assurance that due process will be followed. The NBI asserts politics has nothing to do with Mabanta's arrest. We are evidence-based, even in this case, we simply followed where the evidence led. If the NBI arrested them without proof, then that's one thing. But if there is evidence, you cannot claim this is being politicized. In a social media post, Mabanta maintains that no crime was committed. Claiming the entrapment operation was a setup, designed to silence a 90-minute expose on alleged corruption involving Romualdez. Mabanta added, he has authorized the immediate release of the investigation across all platforms. Should any harm come to his team while in custody. Mabanta is now under NBI custody as authorities prepare an extortion case against him. The investigation into other possible persons involved is also ongoing. Zian Ambrosi, ABS-CBN News.