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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Palaban ba kamo?': PGMN personality no show at NBI probe into P300 M extortion try

'Palaban ba kamo?': PGMN personality no show at NBI probe into P300 M extortion try

Published May 11, 2026 02:22 pm
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Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN) host Camille Jensen “CJ” Hirro did not show up before investigators at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday, May 11, despite being summoned to shed light on her possible involvement in the P300 million extortion attempt against Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
Instead, her legal counsel, lawyer Lian Cacapit, appeared before investigators on behalf of Hirro who has been classified by the NBI as a person of interest in the case.
Cacapit assured that his client is not hiding, “Wala s’ya dapat itatago (She has no reason to hide).”
He said Hirro is on an out-of-town trip but could not provide further details as to why she could not come to the NBI.
The NBI probe snub came as netizens noticed a defiant Hirro posting statements on her social media account. 
Following his meeting with NBI investigators, the lawyer said “nakasecure na ako nung copy ng subpoena (I have secured the subpoena issued to her) and I’ll report the same to my client.”
Meanwhile, PGMN on Sunday, May 10, released online its over an hour long video report against Romualdez.
NBI Director Melvin A. Matibag said during an interview on GMA’s Unang Hirit on Monday that he has watched part of the video.
Matibag observed “hindi ko po makita ang bago doon so far sa napanood ko po (I found nothing new with what I watched).
“Hindi na po material ‘yun. Actually, kung may bagong ebidensya o ano man, ang krimen consumated na po, nangyari na po (The release of the video is no longer material. Actually, whether the video showed new evidence or not, the crime has already been committed),” he said.
Last May 5, the NBI arrested during an entrapment operation in Pasig City PGMN founder and chairman Roberto Ma. Franco Cruz Mabanta and four other persons for allegedly trying to extort P300 million from Romualdez in exchange for not releasing the video.
Matibag has earlier identified Hirro as a person of interest since she was in a video clip that was sent to the camp of Romualdez in making the demands.

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