PGMN’s CJ Hirro challenges Rep. Rillo to live debate over P71-M accusation

MANILA, Philippines – Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN) anchor CJ Hirro has issued a direct challenge to Quezon City 4th District Representative Marvin Rillo, calling on him to face her in a no-edits, no-censorship live debate this Tuesday at noon, amid allegations surrounding the controversial P71-million Carlos L. Albert High School multipurpose building project.

Watch full video here:

In a video posted on PGMN’s social media platforms, Hirro pushed back against Rillo’s camp’s threats of a lawsuit, calling them “a desperate, cowardly attempt to intimidate and silence someone who is doing her job—her civic duty of protecting the interests of her countrymen.”

“Debate me face-to-face. Let’s dissect every allegation—go through each one—line by line, item by item. Answer every question,” Hirro said. (“Debate me face-to-face. Let’s dissect every allegation—isa-isahin natin yan—line by line, item by item. Sagutin mo lahat ng tanong.”)

At the center of the issue is the project’s first phase, which began in March 2023 but remains unfinished to this day, with only the foundation and steel posts completed. Rillo and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) claim that only the first phase has been completed, with two more phases remaining to reach the total budget of P225 million.

However, in a video posted earlier this April, Hirro pointed out that the project’s official documents—particularly the bidding documents and the project billboard—made no mention of phases. She noted that such details should have been explicitly stated in the special conditions section of the bidding documents to ensure funding continuity across administrations. Moreover, no budget had been allocated for the second and third phases.

Hirro also cited the Bill of Quantities, which included ceiling reinforcements, windows, doors, and tiles, arguing that the approved budget was intended for a completed building—not merely its foundation and posts.

In a statement sent to the Inquirer last week, Rillo dismissed the allegations as “hearsay.”

Hirro stressed, “All I did was compare your public statements—sourced from your interviews and your official Facebook page—to official documents from PhilGEPS and DPWH. That is—by definition—the literal opposite of hearsay.”

She further criticized politicians’ misuse of the term “fake news,” describing it as a “get-out-of-truth-free card” used to evade accountability.

Emphasizing that a live debate would allow Rillo to defend himself publicly, Hirro declared: “If you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to be afraid of.” She warned that if Rillo chose instead to pursue legal action to silence her, “That will prove that you do not fight fair and that you are a coward.” (“That will prove na hindi ka lumalaban nang patas at duwag ka.”)

“PGMN is not a ragtag band of backyard broadcasters you can bully like some goon in a low-budget kiss kiss bang bang movie,” Hirro asserted. “I am a journalist, armed with truth and backed by those who will not bend to your scare tactics.”

As of this writing, the challenge has drawn attention, with the video gaining close to one million views on Facebook, Tiktok, YouTube, Instagram and X combined.

Rep. Rillo has yet to respond publicly to the challenge.