MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has officially summoned Camille Jensen “CJ” Hirro, a prominent anchor for the Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN), to “shed light” on an alleged ₱350-million extortion scheme targeting former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The subpoena, confirmed by NBI Director Melvin Matibag on Friday, May 8, 2026, follows the high-profile arrest of PGMN founder Franco Mabanta and four others earlier this week.
The investigation stems from a complaint filed by Romualdez, who is currently embroiled in a multi-billion peso flood-control corruption scandal.
- The “Exposé” Video: Mabanta and his group allegedly demanded ₱350 million (later negotiated to ₱300 million) in exchange for withholding a video report that supposedly linked Romualdez to systemic corruption in the House of Representatives.
- Hirro’s Role: NBI investigators identified Hirro as a “person of interest” because she appeared in a short “teaser” video sent to Romualdez to compel the payoff.
- The Entrapment: Five suspects were arrested during an NBI sting operation on Tuesday, May 5, at the Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig City. Agents delivered suitcases containing ₱75 million—a mix of ₱50,000 real cash from NBI confidential funds and boodle money—as the first of four agreed installments.
Despite the NBI’s findings, the defense maintains that no crime was committed.
- “A Setup”: Following his arrest, Mabanta characterized the operation as a “setup” intended to silence independent media. His lead counsel, Bernice Piñol Rodriguez, asserted, “There was no extortion… no crime was committed.”
- Not a Respondent: Rodriguez clarified that while Hirro has been summoned for questioning on May 11, she is not currently a respondent in the complaint. The lawyer described Hirro as a “journalist with credibility and integrity.”
- Bail Status: As of Saturday, May 9, Mabanta and his four co-accused remain in NBI custody at the Bureau of Corrections facility in Muntinlupa after failing to post bail on Friday.
CJ Hirro is a well-known figure in Philippine media and pageantry:
- Academic Background: A 2009 cum laude Communications Arts graduate from the University of the Philippines.
- Pageantry: Crowned Miss Global Philippines 2016 and placed as first runner-up in the Miss Global international pageant that same year.
- Career: Joined PGMN as a commentator and anchor shortly after its launch in 2024.
The NBI has also applied for a cyber warrant to examine seized gadgets to determine if other individuals were targeted by similar schemes. The case has sparked a wider debate about the credibility of digital “independent media” versus traditional outlets, with the The Manila Times editorial board calling the incident a “blot on all media.”