41 House lawmakers seek probe of PGMN extort try
A total of 41 House lawmakers, among them the wife and son of Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, have filed a resolution seeking an investigation of the extortion attempt allegedly made by online channel Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN) against the former Speaker.
The office of Tingog party list Rep. Jude Acidre confirmed on Wednesday that House Resolution (HR) No. 1006 was filed on Tuesday amid concerns that PGMN was creating questionable content that is being used to coerce or blackmail government officials and spread disinformation.
According to the authors of HR No. 1006, legitimate journalism should be protected but there is a need to check whether PGMN’s acts fall under mere online harassment or an organized extortion plan which targets public officials.
“There is a need to determine whether the alleged acts involving PGMN form part of a broader pattern of online harassment, disinformation, cyber-enabled coercion or organized extortion directed at public officials, private citizens or institutions,” it added.
Online harassment
PGMN found itself in hot water after National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag confirmed on May 6 that its agents arrested social media personality and PGMN founder Franco Mabanta. This was after he allegedly tried to extort P350 million from Romualdez in exchange for staying silent on the former Speaker’s alleged links to the flood control scandal and the 2025 budget mess.
Aside from Acidre, among the lawmakers who authored the resolution were Tingog Representatives Yedda Marie Romualdez and Andrew Julian Romualdez, the wife and son, respectively, of the former Speaker.
