MANILA — The camp of political media network PGMN strongly denied allegations of extortion following the arrest of several of its members in what authorities described as an “entrapment operation” conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
In a lengthy public statement, PGMN personality Franco Mabanta claimed that he and four members of their team were “wrongfully arrested” five days ago in what he described as an “illegal setup” allegedly meant to stop the release of a controversial exposé involving former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
According to Mabanta, the group did not initiate contact with Romualdez’s camp and denied accusations that they demanded money in exchange for suppressing a story.
“We are not extortionists,” Mabanta declared, insisting that individuals allegedly connected to Romualdez’s camp were the ones who repeatedly reached out to them under the guise of seeking help for a mining company identified as Marcventures Mining.
Mabanta further claimed that PGMN never intended to bury the story and said they possess messages, timelines, and other evidence which they plan to present at the “proper time and proper venue” while the case remains pending before the courts.
The PGMN figure also framed the incident as an attack on press freedom, accusing powerful forces of using state resources to silence journalists and intimidate their organization.
“This is now absolutely, undeniably and fundamentally suppression of press freedom,” he said.
Mabanta likewise questioned the speed and scale of the operation conducted against their group, noting that the allegations involved a bailable offense.
He also raised concerns over the sudden emergence of anonymous social media accounts allegedly attacking PGMN and branding them as extortionists, as well as what he described as “malicious” coverage from certain mainstream media outlets.
At the center of the controversy is a still-unreleased video report anchored by PGMN lead anchor Cj Hirro, which Mabanta described as the “real reason” behind the operation against their group.
The statement quickly generated strong reactions online, with assorted comments flying left and right from both supporters and critics of the embattled media group.
Supporters argued that the arrests raised serious concerns about press intimidation and political influence, with some netizens calling for an independent investigation into the operation.
Others expressed sympathy for the families and colleagues of those arrested, saying journalists and media workers should not be silenced through fear or harassment.
However, critics maintained that authorities should be allowed to complete their investigation, emphasizing that allegations of extortion are serious and should be resolved through proper legal processes.
Some social media users also questioned the timing of the public statement and urged both camps to present concrete evidence instead of relying on public opinion.
As of writing, neither the NBI nor representatives of Romualdez have issued a detailed response to Mabanta’s latest accusations.
The controversy continues to fuel heated debate online, further deepening public discussion on media freedom, political influence, and accountability in the country.
ia/xf
