The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested Peanut Gallery Media Network founder and CEO Franco Mabanta and four others Tuesday night, May 5, after the group was caught accepting suitcases of marked cash in an entrapment operation in Pasig City for alleged extortion of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The NBI’s Organized Crime and Transnational Division (OCTD) mounted the operation following a complaint filed by Romualdez through a representative, alleging that Mabanta’s group demanded ₱350 million in exchange for suppressing an exposé purportedly linking the former Speaker to corruption.
According to NBI Executive Officer John Mark Santiago, talks between the group and Romualdez’s representative began a year ago at a lower amount before being revived two weeks ago, with the demand ballooning to ₱350 million structured in four tranches of ₱75 million each.
The PGMN group allegedly set a May 5 deadline, threatening to release the first part of the video if payment was not made.
According to the NBI, Mabanta initially refused to personally accept the marked money at a Makati hotel, citing the presence of CCTV cameras, and instead arranged for another individual to receive it at a separate location in Pasig.
NBI agents conducted surveillance and tailing after Mabanta departed the Makati hotel, eventually identifying the exact unit in Pasig where the money was delivered—and where Mabanta himself was also found.
During the press briefing Wednesday morning, NBI Director Melvin Matibag confirmed the marked money had already been accepted by the group before the arrest. “Hindi handang tanggapin, tinanggap na nga ‘yung marked money na iyan para sabihing talagang consummated yung krimen,” Matibag said in response to a question from a reporter.
Mabanta and the others face charges of robbery extortion in relation to violation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act, or Republic Act 10175, with the case to be filed before Pasig prosecutors. Matibag noted that bail will likely be recommended given the nature of the charges.
The NBI said the investigation is ongoing, with authorities planning to apply for cyber and search warrants to examine seized laptops and mobile phones. Matibag added that investigators will look into possible conspiracy and the identity of financial beneficiaries, saying the probe may extend beyond those already arrested.
Matibag also cast doubt on whether the video at the center of the extortion demand was ever intended to be released. “Hindi pa namin din napapanood, kung ganoon nga yung tinitingnan nating anggulo, ibig sabihin there is probably no intention of releasing the video. Gagamitin lang talaga siya to gain financial gains,” he said.
The NBI chief also took the opportunity to announce the establishment of a new Financial Investigative Unit within the bureau, saying the office is actively monitoring suspicious financial transactions. “I’ll take the opportunity to announce that we have put up a new service unit which is the Financial Investigative Unit, so nakabantay din kami sa ganyan,” Matibag said.
On why the transaction was conducted in cash rather than through digital means, Matibag suggested the suspects may have been avoiding a paper trail. “Siguro kaya ganun dahil if you do it online, there will be a digital footprint. Mas madaling mahahabol. Mag-aalarm kaagad iyan sa AMLC,” he said.
