NBI Dir. Melvin Matibag/ Photo courtesy of PNA.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said it would widen its inquiry into possible victims linked to an alleged blackmail scheme involving the Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN), following the arrest of its founder and four others over a complaint tied to former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag said several government officials had indirectly raised concerns about similar experiences, though no formal complaints had been filed yet.
He said investigators were preparing to seek a cyber warrant to examine electronic devices seized from the suspects to trace possible communications with other individuals.
Matibag said the probe had identified both government and private personalities who may have been approached, but declined to identify them, noting that disclosures would depend on digital evidence recovery.
The NBI said recovered messages and deleted data could still be retrieved through forensic tools once the warrant is issued, which may help establish the extent of the alleged scheme.
Franco Mabanta, founder of PGMN, and his co-accused denied the accusations, insisting they were framed and had done nothing illegal.
Mabanta said the group was accused of extortion after approaching individuals who, he claimed, had voluntarily engaged with them regarding sensitive material.
Romualdez’s spokesperson, Elaine Atienza, rejected claims that the case involved press freedom, saying the issue centered on an alleged demand for money in exchange for withholding damaging content.
She said the lawmaker reported the matter to authorities, which led to an entrapment operation by NBI agents posing as representatives of Romualdez and delivering marked money that was later replaced with fake bills.
The NBI said the suspects were arrested after receiving suitcases containing what they believed was part of a Php 300 million payment, while further investigation is ongoing, including the possible involvement of additional individuals.