Franco Mabanta served as Marcos' social media director for 6 months in 2018 — Palace

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — Malacañang said Friday that Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN) founder Franco Mabanta only worked as social media director for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for around six months in 2018.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said this in an ambush interview on the sidelines of the 48th ASEAN Summit here.

“Sa aking pagkakaalam—ito lamang po ang naibigay sa akin—parang tumagal lamang po siya ng six months? Mga six months po dahil according to them, sa nagbigay sa akin ng info, medyo hindi nagustuhan ‘yung style,” Castro told reporters.

(From what I know, based on the information given to me, he only lasted six months? About six months because according to the person who gave me the info, they didn't like Mabanta’s style.)

She also said that since Mabanta worked for the President in 2018, it was likely that he did not play a role during the 2022 elections.

The National Bureau of Investigation earlier arrested Mabanta after an alleged extortion attempt against former speaker and incumbent Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez.

Marcos and Romualdez are cousins.

Mabanta allegedly claimed to possess videos implicating Romualdez in the flood control scandal. He allegedly pressed Romualdez to pay P350 million or else he would release the videos via PGMN.

The social media personality was nabbed after supposedly receiving P300 million in marked money.

Mabanta and PGMN have denied the allegations and claimed the case was politically motivated.

Castro previously said that Mabanta “is not a friend of the President.”

EXPLAINER: Who is Franco Mabanta?

The Palace Press Officer also suggested looking into Mabanta’s alleged links with the Duterte camp, noting that some of his published content were critical of the Marcos administration.

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, meanwhile, questioned Castro’s statement, asking if Marcos and Mabanta were instead “strangers with memories.”

Castro, in response, dared Roque to issue recent photos of Mabanta with the President.

“Kailan ba yung sinasabi nila—2018. Wala namang nagde-deny na naging social media director ng Pangulo itong si Franco Mabanta. But we’re talking of now,” Castro said.

(They were talking about 2018. No one is denying that Franco Mabanta was the President’s social media director back then. But we’re talking of what's happening now.)

“So china-challenge ko rin, bigyan niya ako ng larawan na magkasama si Franco Mabanta at ang Pangulong Marcos Jr.—lalong-lalo na sa kanyang wedding kung saan ang mga kasamahan niya ay parang nagagawi sa tinatawag na DDS,” she added.

(So I also challenge him to give me a photo of Mabanta and President Marcos Jr. together—especially at his wedding.)

Ties

Asked if Marcos and Mabanta still have ties as of the moment, Castro said she has no idea about the matter.

“Wala po tayong alam sa ngayon dahil walang naibibigay sa akin na impormasyon kung sila man po ay nagkakausap. Kasi meron naman siyang open letter, itong si Franco Mabanta, na nai-post. So, kung sila’y close ngayon, eh bakit open letter? 'Di ba dapat personal siyang nakikipag-usap?” Castro said.

(I don't know anything right now because I haven't been given any information about whether they are talking to each other. Mabanta has an open letter which he posted. So, if they are close now, why would he issue an open letter? Shouldn't he be talking with the President in person?) — RSJ, GMA News