NBI: PGMN’s CJ Hirro person of interest in Romualdez ‘extortion’ case

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is looking for Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN) anchor CJ Hirro as a person of interest in the “extortion” case against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, according to NBI Director Melvin Matibag.

This comes after the NBI arrested on Tuesday PGMN founder Franco Mabanta and four others over Romualdez’s complaint that they tried to extort up to P350 million from him in exchange for not releasing an alleged “exposé video” that would supposedly link him to corruption in the House of Representatives.

READ: Socmed personality Franco Mabanta nabbed for Martin Romualdez extort try

In an ambush interview on Thursday, Matibag said the NBI will summon Hirro since she is included in the complaint affidavit.

“She’s a person of interest because she’s there in our complainant’s affidavit,” Matibag told reporters.

“We’ll summon her. We will go through the process,” he also said.

When asked about Hirro’s participation in the case, the NBI director said, “The video clip used, she’s the one who’s there”

Matibag said the NBI is also looking into the participation of other individuals from the PGMN who may also be involved in the case.

He also said the NBI is applying for a cyber warrant to look into their seized gadgets and determine if other individuals have been or will be victimized by their alleged extortion scheme. /mr