MANILA — Online media personality Franco Mabanta and four co-accused were released from custody on Saturday after posting bail in connection with the alleged P300-million extortion attempt involving former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez.
The Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 167 ordered the release of Mabanta and his companions after each posted P120,000 bail for the robbery and extortion complaint filed against them following a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) entrapment operation earlier this week.
The court operated under Saturday duty pursuant to a memorandum issued by the executive judge of the Pasig RTC in 2025.
The NBI earlier said Mabanta, founder of Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN), and the four others underwent inquest proceedings after their arrest tied to the alleged extortion scheme.
According to NBI spokesperson Palmer Mallari, the complaint was filed under Article 294 of the Revised Penal Code, which covers robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons.
Authorities alleged that Mabanta and his associates attempted to extort P300 million from Romualdez in exchange for supposedly withholding the release of a video allegedly linking the lawmaker to questionable flood control projects.
Mabanta denied the allegations and maintained that the operation conducted against them was a “setup.”
He also said he and his co-accused are prepared to defend themselves and prove their innocence in court. /PN
