Online media personality Franco Mabanta and four others posted bail on Saturday after being charged with robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons over an alleged extortion attempt involving former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 167 issued a release order after Mabanta and his co-accused each posted P120,000 bail.
The hearing was conducted under Saturday court duty in line with a 2025 memorandum issued by the executive judge of the Pasig RTC.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) earlier said Mabanta, founder of Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN), and four others underwent inquest proceedings Wednesday night following their arrest in an entrapment operation earlier this week.
According to NBI spokesperson Palmer Mallari, the case was filed under Article 294 of the Revised Penal Code, which covers robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons.
Authorities alleged that Mabanta and his companions attempted to extort P300 million from Romualdez in exchange for allegedly withholding the release of a supposed video linking the Leyte lawmaker to anomalous flood control projects.
Mabanta earlier denied the allegations, claiming the operation against them was a “setup” and saying he and his colleagues are prepared to prove their innocence in court.
