By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Forty-one lawmakers filed House Resolution No. 1006 late Tuesday, calling for an investigation into the alleged robbery-extortion activities of an online media startup.
HR 1006 directs the House Committees on Public Order and Safety; Information and Communications Technology; and Public Information to identify whether the Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN) ran afoul of the law with cases such as cybercrime and extortion.
The exhaustive list of figures who filed the Resolution were Yedda Marie Romualdez, Andrew Julian Romualdez, Jude Acidre, Doris Maniquiz, Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, Maria Cristina Angeles, Joseph Lara, Munir Arbison, Munir Arbison Jr., JC Rahman Nava, Yasser Balindong, Binky April Tupas, Felimon Espares, Francisco Paolo Ortega V, Gerardo Espina Jr., Dale Corvera, Jane Castro, Mauricio Domogan, Ramon Guico, Alyssa Michaela Gonzales, Elisa Kho, Ysabel Maria Zamora, John Tracy Cagas, Zaldy Villa, Bienvenido Abante Jr., Emmarie Ouano-Dizon, Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon, Chrisopher Sheen Gonzales, Jose Aquino II, Adrian Salceda, Ma Isabel Sagarbarria, Miguel Luis Villafuerte, Alfredo Marañon III, Franz Vincent Legazpi, Girlie Veloso, Ma. Alana Samantha Taliño Santos, Antolin Oreta III, Dante Garcia, Reynaldo Salvacion, Ziaur-Rahman Alonto Adiong, and Marcelino Libanan.
These lawmakers also urge for an in-depth look into the operations and practices of the web-based news outfit to determine if it aligns with journalistic standards and gauge its stance against falsehoods and disinformation on the internet, citing Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
The resolution points out Articles 293, 294, 282, 286, 353, and 355 of the Revised Penal Code as grounds to conduct a probe into these allegations that hound the 10-month-old entity.
HR 1006 said, “There is a need to determine whether the alleged acts involving PGMN form part of a broader pattern of online harassment, disinformation, cyber-enabled coercion, or organized extortion directed at public officials, private citizens, or institutions.”
It added, “There is likewise a need to determine whether PGMN and persons associated with it are compliant with applicable laws and regulations concerning registration, taxation, lawful business operations, online monetization, and digital platform activities.”
This legislation moreover calls on responsible officers, content creators, administrators, representatives, and other persons related to PGMN, as well as defendants, complainants, witnesses, law enforcement officers, digital platform representatives, and other affected parties to uncover the truth behind this issue.
Other government agencies, such as the Department of Justice (DOJ), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG), the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) are likewise urged to coordinate with the legal proceedings. (with report from Vel Custodio | PTV News)
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