MANILA — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has tagged Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN) anchor CJ Hirro as a person of interest in the alleged P350-million extortion case involving former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, widening the high-profile probe that earlier led to the arrest of online media personality Franco Mabanta.
NBI director Melvin Matibag said Hirro would be summoned by investigators after she appeared in a video clip connected to the complaint filed before the bureau.
“Yung video na ginamit na clip, siya yung nandoon. Ipapatawag namin siya. We will go through the process,” Matibag said.
Matibag added that Hirro could have already been included in the complaint but the NBI opted to proceed cautiously while building the case.
“Actually, kung tutuusin, based doon sa complaint na binigay, dapat napasama na siya. But we want to exercise caution,” he said.
Attempts to obtain Hirro’s side were unsuccessful after her social media accounts were reportedly deactivated.
The development came days after Mabanta was arrested in an NBI entrapment operation tied to the same alleged extortion scheme.
Authorities claimed Mabanta allegedly said he possessed videos linking Romualdez to the controversial flood control projects and supposedly demanded P350 million in exchange for not releasing the materials through PGMN.
Investigators said Mabanta was arrested after allegedly receiving the money, although he has strongly denied the accusations.
The NBI also disclosed that it had sought a cyber warrant to examine electronic devices confiscated from the suspects as part of efforts to gather additional digital evidence.
During the inquest proceedings, Mabanta’s lawyer, Bernice Piñol-Rodriguez, maintained that the defense remained confident of defeating the complaint.
“We felt very confident of our defense. We saw the fatal flaws of the complaint affidavit, the evidence that they’ve attached, and we are really confident that we built a very strong defense,” she said.
The bureau likewise dismissed allegations that the entrapment operation was staged, with Matibag saying authorities had documented communications and monitored movements involving the suspects before the arrest.
According to the NBI chief, several government officials and private individuals have also approached the bureau regarding allegedly similar incidents.
Meanwhile, Romualdez’s camp denied accusations by PGMN that the former House Speaker was attempting to silence the media organization.
“Romualdez simply did what any person exposed to the same circumstance would do — he reported the matter to the proper authorities, and the NBI acted on that report pursuant to its mandate under the law,” said lawyer Elaine Atienza.
“Such conduct undermines legitimate journalism and damages public trust in genuine media institutions,” she added./PN
