CROSSING party lines, a total of 41 lawmakers have filed House Resolution (HR) No. 1006 seeking a congressional inquiry into alleged robbery extortion activities involving Peanut Gallery Media Network, or PGMN, following concerns that online platforms may be used for intimidation, coercion, disinformation and alleged financial demands under the guise of media or public commentary.
The resolution was received by the House Bills and Index Service Tuesday, May 12, which requested the House Committees on Public Order and Safety, Information and Communications Technology and Public Information to look into the matter.
“When a group allegedly prepares damaging material, holds it back and demands money in exchange for not releasing it, that is not journalism. That is extortion,” Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, who chairs the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, said.
“Kaisa tayo ng bansa sa pagpapahalaga sa malayang panamahayag. But PGMN is far from practicing real journalism. This resolution intends to expose PGMN’s alleged extortion activities and unmask it as a mere fake news peddler,” Acidre added.
The resolution was introduced by Acidre along with Reps. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, Andrew Julian Romualdez, Doris Maniquiz, Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, Maria Cristina Angeles, Joseph Lara, Munir Arbison, Munir Arbison Jr., JC Rahman Nava, Yasser Balindong, Binky April Tupas, Felimon Espares, Francisco Paolo Ortega V, Gerardo Espina Jr., Dale Corvera, Jane Castro, Mauricio Domogan, Franz F. Vincent Legazpi, Ramon Guico, Alyssa Michaela Gonzales, Elisa Kho, Ysabel Maria Zamora, John Tracy Cagas, Zaldy Villa, Bienvenido Abante Jr., Emmarie Ouano-Dizon, Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon, Christopher Sheen Gonzales, Jose Aquino II, Adrian Salceda, Ma Isabel Sagarbarria, Miguel Luis Villafuerte, Alfredo Marañon III, Girlie Veloso, Ma Alana Samantha Taliño Santos, Antolin Oreta III, Dante Garcia, Reynaldo Salvacion, Ziaur-Rahman Alonto Adiong, and Marcelino Libanan.
The lawmakers represented Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), National Unity Party (NUP), and Party-list bloc.
Acidre delivered a privilege speech a day earlier, calling for a probe into what he described as “digital blackmail outfits,” after reports that PGMN founder Franco Mabanta and several others were arrested in an NBI entrapment operation tied to an alleged P300-million extortion attempt.
The resolution stressed that the inquiry should protect free expression while drawing a hard line between legitimate public commentary and alleged criminal conduct.
“While freedom of speech and of the press are protected constitutional rights, these freedoms do not shield acts that may constitute robbery, extortion, grave threats, coercion, cybercrime, or other unlawful conduct,” the lawmakers pointed out in the resolution.
It also recognized that public officials are open to criticism but said such scrutiny must remain within the bounds of law and should not become a cover for harassment, threats, or coercion.
The measure cited recent allegations involving PGMN “in connection with supposed acts of robbery extortion directed against Representative Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.”
It pointed to possible violations of the Revised Penal Code provisions on robbery, grave threats, grave coercion and libel, as well as provisions of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 on cyber libel, aiding or abetting cybercrime and cyber-enabled offenses.
The resolution also raised the broader concern that digital media networks, livestreaming platforms or organized content operations may be used to pressure public officials and private individuals into giving “money, favors, concessions, or other benefits.”
“The alleged acts, if proven true, raise serious concerns on the possible use of online platforms, digital media networks, or organized content operations to pressure, threaten, intimidate, or extract money, favors, concessions, or other benefits from public officials or private individuals,” the resolution stated.
The House inquiry also seeks to determine whether PGMN and persons associated with it are compliant with laws and regulations on registration, taxation, lawful business operations, online monetization and digital platform activities.
The committees were directed to invite PGMN officers, content creators, administrators, representatives, complainants, witnesses, law enforcement officers, digital platform representatives and affected parties to determine the facts, circumstances, intent and accountability behind the alleged acts.
The resolution also calls for coordination with the Department of Justice, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, Anti-Cybercrime Group, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, National Telecommunications Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, Bureau of Internal Revenue and other regulatory bodies.
It further seeks recommendations for legislative and regulatory measures to strengthen safeguards against “robbery extortion, cyber-enabled coercion, organized harassment, and disinformation,” while preserving legitimate journalism, whistleblowing, public commentary and constitutionally protected speech.
