Free on bail: PGMN founder Mabanta, 4 others released from Bilibid
MANILA, Philippines — Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN) founder Franco Mabanta and his four co-accused have been ordered to be released from detention.
In a document provided by the National Bureau of Investigation, the Pasig Regional Trial Court on Saturday ordered their release after posting bail of P120,000 each.
Mabanta and his four co-accused were detained at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
READ: Who is Franco Mabanta, and why did the NBI arrest him
Mabanta release
“ACCORDINGLY, the Chief of the National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Corrections Detention Facility located at Building No. 14, New Bilibid Prison BuCor Compound, Muntinlupa City is DIRECTED to release respondents,” the court order read.
Mabanta and four others failed to post bail on Friday, with Atty. Bernice Rodriguez saying that the bail for each of her clients was P120,000.
In an interview on Friday, Rodriguez said that without preempting their actions, they “are exhausting every possible legal remedy available just to ensure that the case will be dismissed and that our clients will be released as soon as possible.”
READ: Mabanta, 4 others fail to post bail for ‘extortion’ case
The NBI Organized and Transnational Crime Division arrested Mabanta and four others last Tuesday during an entrapment operation.
This stemmed from Romualdez’ complaint that Mabanta allegedly tried to extort P350 million from him, and then lowered it to P300 million, in exchange for not releasing an alleged “expose video” linking the former House speaker to corruption in the House of Representatives.
The agents then posed as Romualdez’ representatives where they brought three pieces of luggage carrying the boodle money worth P75 million.
The agents met with Mabanta at The Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City at around 5:30 p.m.
Mabanta then reportedly instructed the agents to deliver the money at Valle Verde Country Club to a certain “Jimmy,” who was later identified as Jardine Serrano.
Serrano and Franco Gallardo took the entrapment money and brought it to a function room inside the club, where Mabanta, Ericson Pacaba and John Gomez were waiting and were later arrested.
READ: Romualdez Camp: PGMN not journalists, just extortionists
Mabanta earlier denied that he allegedly tried to extort money from Romualdez. The PGMN then said that the extortion case is meant to be a “setup.”
Meanwhile, the camp of Romualdez said that the PGMN “is twisting the narrative,” saying that the exposé materials they claim to possess must be submitted to proper authorities, and “not use it as leverage in exchange for money.”
“That is what PGMN did: They purportedly produced a video that was allegedly ready to run several weeks ago and yet chose not to release it. That is not journalism, that is extortion,” said Atty. Elaine Atienza, Romualdez’ spokesperson.
“Such conduct undermines legitimate journalism and damages public trust in genuine media institutions,” she added.
READ: NBI nabs PGMN founder Franco Mabanta for alleged extortion vs Romualdez
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