Makati city: The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday announced the arrest of five individuals, including the head of an online news aggregator site, for their alleged involvement in an extortion attempt targeting Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez. Acting on Romualdez's complaint, the NBI-Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBI-OTCD) apprehended Roberto Ma. Franco Cruz Mabanta, founder and chairman of Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN), along with four accomplices during an entrapment operation.

According to Philippines News Agency, Mabanta allegedly threatened Romualdez through an intermediary, claiming to possess online content that purportedly linked the congressman to corruption activities within the House of Representatives. Mabanta allegedly demanded PHP300 million, divided into four installments of PHP75 million each, to withhold the release of the alleged expos©. A segment of the purported video material was reportedly sent to bolster Mabanta's threat.

NBI-OTCD operatives set up an entrapment operation after agreeing on the delivery of the first installment of PHP75 million. Undercover agents, posing as representatives of Romualdez, met with Mabanta's group at The Manila Peninsula in Makati City at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. During this meeting, Mabanta reiterated his demand and instructed the agents to deliver the money to a certain 'Jimmy,' identified as Jardine Christian Serrano, at Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig City.

Upon the delivery of the entrapment money, Serrano and Franco Jose Gallardo received the cash and transported it to a function room within the club, where Mabanta and two others, Ericson James Pacaba and John Alexander Vasquez Gomez, awaited. The NBI team promptly executed the operation, resulting in the arrest of Mabanta's group and the recovery of the entrapment money.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag emphasized the bureau's commitment to targeting individuals who allegedly exploit online platforms, engage in intimidation, and employ blackmail tactics. He stated, "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."