Franco Mabanta, the founder of the Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN), has been ordered released from custody, along with four co-accused, after they posted bail.
The release follows a ruling from the Pasig Regional Trial Court, which approved the bail of P120,000 for each individual. Mabanta and the others were detained following allegations of extortion involving former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Mabanta and his co-accused had been held at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City until the court's decision on Saturday.
Details of the Allegations
The charges stem from claims by Romualdez that Mabanta attempted to extort P350 million, later negotiating down to P300 million, in exchange for not releasing a video purportedly implicating him in corruption.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested Mabanta and the others on May 5 during an entrapment operation at The Manila Peninsula Hotel. NBI agents posed as Romualdez’s representatives, bringing luggage containing P75 million in marked bills.
The Chief of the National Bureau of Investigation is directed to release respondents,
The court's order emphasized the need for the NBI to comply with the release directive.
Legal Representation
Mabanta's attorney, Bernice Rodriguez, previously stated they were exploring all legal avenues to secure their clients' release and seek a dismissal of the case.
Mabanta has denied the extortion allegations, asserting that the case is a setup.
Romualdez's camp, however, maintains that PGMN's actions constitute extortion rather than journalism, arguing that the materials they claimed to possess should be handled legally, not used for financial gain.