NBI probes PGMN over ‘paid content’

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has received a complaint seeking a probe into Peanut Gallery Media Network, PGMN founder Franco Mabanta and anchor CJ Hirro over alleged disinformation and paid political content during the 2025 midterm elections.

Former Quezon City fourth district congressman Marvin Rillo filed the complaint, accusing PGMN and its personalities of publishing malicious online videos and social media posts linking him to corruption involving the Carlos L. Albert High School gymnasium project.

In a statement yesterday, the NBI said Rillo claimed that the online materials were misleading and failed to include clarifications from the Department of Public Works and Highways that the project was under phased construction.

Rillo alleged that the PGMN report could have been part of a paid political operation meant to damage his reputation during the election period.

He asked the NBI to determine if Mabanta and Hirro were paid or commissioned to promote political candidates or attack opponents and whether such arrangements were disclosed under election and tax laws.

The former lawmaker also sought an investigation into Hirro’s alleged participation in producing and publishing the questioned videos.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag said Hirro did not attend the proceeding on Monday after being summoned in connection with a separate extortion case filed by former speaker Martin Romualdez.

Hirro’s lawyer informed the NBI that Hirro was abroad.

“Her lawyer said she is not hiding, but she is out of the country” Matibag declared.

The NBI requested for information from the Bureau of Immigration regarding Hirro’s departure.

Matibag said the NBI would give Hirro another opportunity to explain her side.

“We need to invite her because there are many things that need to be explained, based on what we discovered,” the NBI chief said.

Matibag said investigators noticed discrepancies between a three-minute video clip allegedly used for the extortion and a 90-minute exposé video.

He said screenshots showed Hirro wearing different clothes and having a different appearance in the videos despite delivering nearly identical messages.

Matibag said the NBI is still waiting for a cyber warrant from the court before examining the gadgets seized from Mabanta and four other suspects who were arrested in an entrapment operation in Pasig last week.

Mabanta and his cohorts are out on bail.