NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Romualdez Camp Rejects PGMN Claims; Calls Incident Extortion Case
FILE
The camp of Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has rejected allegations raised by Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN), insisting that the issue surrounding the group is not about press freedom but an alleged extortion attempt now under investigation.
In a statement, Romualdez spokesperson Atty. Elaine Atienza said the narrative being pushed by PGMN is misleading and shifts attention away from the criminal complaint filed with authorities.
Atienza said Romualdez acted properly when he reported the matter to law enforcement after allegedly being targeted for money in exchange for withholding or not releasing damaging content.
She stressed that the case is now being handled by investigators and will be resolved based on evidence rather than online narratives.
The Romualdez camp also argued that the materials or videos allegedly held by PGMN have no bearing on the extortion allegations being examined by authorities. It said that if any group possesses evidence against public officials, the proper course is to submit it to institutions or release it publicly through legitimate channels, not use it as leverage.
Atienza further claimed that the group allegedly prepared a video intended for release but chose to withhold it for weeks, which she said raises questions about intent and journalistic practice.
She also warned that actions of this nature could undermine public trust in legitimate media organizations and blur the line between journalism and alleged criminal activity.
Authorities are currently investigating the complaint filed by Romualdez’s camp following an entrapment operation that led to the arrest of several individuals linked to PGMN. The suspects are accused of allegedly demanding large sums of money in exchange for not releasing damaging content.
The investigation remains ongoing as law enforcement continues to gather evidence and determine possible charges.
In a statement, Romualdez spokesperson Atty. Elaine Atienza said the narrative being pushed by PGMN is misleading and shifts attention away from the criminal complaint filed with authorities.
Atienza said Romualdez acted properly when he reported the matter to law enforcement after allegedly being targeted for money in exchange for withholding or not releasing damaging content.
She stressed that the case is now being handled by investigators and will be resolved based on evidence rather than online narratives.
The Romualdez camp also argued that the materials or videos allegedly held by PGMN have no bearing on the extortion allegations being examined by authorities. It said that if any group possesses evidence against public officials, the proper course is to submit it to institutions or release it publicly through legitimate channels, not use it as leverage.
Atienza further claimed that the group allegedly prepared a video intended for release but chose to withhold it for weeks, which she said raises questions about intent and journalistic practice.
She also warned that actions of this nature could undermine public trust in legitimate media organizations and blur the line between journalism and alleged criminal activity.
Authorities are currently investigating the complaint filed by Romualdez’s camp following an entrapment operation that led to the arrest of several individuals linked to PGMN. The suspects are accused of allegedly demanding large sums of money in exchange for not releasing damaging content.
The investigation remains ongoing as law enforcement continues to gather evidence and determine possible charges.
May 7, 2026
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