MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation – Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBI-OTCD) on Wednesday said it arrested five people, including an alleged social media personality, for alleged extortion on Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez.

Roberto Ma. Franco Cruz Mabanta, known founder and chairman of the Peanut Gallery Media Network, was arrested in an entrapment operation on Tuesday at a country club in Pasig City

Mabanta and his alleged accomplices who were identified as Ericson James Pacaba, John Alexander Vasquez Gomez, Jardine Christian Requio Serrano, and Franco Jose Gallardo, were charged with alleged robbery (extortion) in violation of Republic Act 10175 or the “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012” following a complaint filed by Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez who claimed that Mabanta tried to extort P300 million from him in exchange for the non-release of evidence linking the former speaker to the flood control scam.

“Investigation disclosed that Mabanta allegedly threatened the complainant through an intermediary with the release of online content purportedly linking Rep. Romualdez to corruption in the House of Representatives,” the NBI’s statement read.

“In exchange for withholding the publication of the alleged exposé, Mabanta allegedly demanded P300 million, payable in four tranches of P75 million each. A portion of the purported video material was allegedly sent to lend credence to the threat,” the agency added.

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NBI Director Melvin Matibag confirmed the development, saying Mabanta was taken into custody. 

Mabanta rose to prominence as the creator of PGMN, a platform known for publishing political commentary content on social media, particularly on YouTube.