The National Bureau of Investigation has issued a subpoena against Peanut Gallery Media Network anchor CJ Hirro in connection with the alleged extortion complaint involving former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
National Bureau of Investigation Director Atty. Melvin Matibag confirmed on Friday that Hirro was ordered to appear before the NBI headquarters in Pasay City on May 11.
The subpoena came days after authorities arrested PGMN founder Franco Mabanta and four others over allegations that they attempted to extort up to P350 million from Romualdez in exchange for withholding the release of an alleged “exposé video” supposedly linking him to corruption in the House of Representatives.
Mabanta and the four other individuals remain detained at the NBI detention facility inside the Bureau of Corrections compound in Muntinlupa City.
Matibag earlier described Hirro as a “person of interest” after her name reportedly appeared in the complainant’s affidavit.
“She’s a person of interest because she’s there in our complainant’s affidavit,” Matibag said.
The NBI chief also said investigators are examining the possible involvement of other individuals linked to PGMN.
Authorities earlier noted that Hirro allegedly appeared in one of the video clips being reviewed as part of the investigation.
As of posting time, Hirro’s social media accounts remained deactivated.
Meanwhile, lawyer Bernice Piñol-Rodriguez, legal counsel for Mabanta, maintained that Hirro is not a respondent in the complaint and described her as “a journalist with credibility and integrity.”
Hirro joined PGMN as an anchor and commentator after previously gaining public attention as a beauty queen. She represented the Philippines in Miss Global 2016 and finished as first runner-up in the international competition.
