Pasig court issues cyber warrant vs. Franco Mabanta, others — NBI

A Pasig court has allowed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to open the gadgets of Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN) founder Franco Mabanta and others following an alleged extortion try against former Speaker Martin Romualdez, the bureau said Tuesday.

In a press briefing, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said, "The cyber warrant doon po kay Franco Mabanta has been approved by the Regional Trial Court of Pasig. So the NBI is now authorized to open the gadgets of Franco Mabanta and his associates."

"Makikita po natin sino po 'yung mga kinausap niya; who are the personalities na nakausap ni Franco Mabanta," he added.

(We will see who he spoke with; the personalities Franco Mabanta talked to.)

In early May, NBI agents arrested Mabanta in an entrapment operation.

Mabanta allegedly claimed possession of videos implicating Romualdez in the multi-billion peso flood control corruption scandal. He allegedly pressed Romualdez to pay P350 million or else he will release the said videos via PGMN.

However, Mabanta and PGMN have denied the allegations. The PGMN has dismissed Mabanta's arrest as a "setup."

On May 9, Mabanta and his four companions were released from NBI custody after they posted bail. — VDV, GMA News