Palace clarifies Marcos’ link to Mabanta

MANILA, Philippines — Social media personality Franco Mabanta – who was arrested for an alleged extortion attempt on Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez – worked as social media director for President Marcos only for six months in 2018, a Palace official clarified yesterday.

“What year are they talking about – 2018? No one is denying that Franco Mabanta was the social media director of the President back then. We’re talking of now,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told reporters.

Mabanta, founder of Peanut Gallery Media Network, was arrested along with four others in Pasig on Tuesday after Romualdez complained that the suspects were allegedly extorting P300 million from him in exchange for not releasing a video that would supposedly link him to flood control corruption.

“From what I know, based on the information given to me, he only lasted six months. Around six months because according to them, the persons who gave me the info, they didn’t like his style,” Castro said.

Castro made the clarification after former presidential spokesman Harry Roque alleged that Mabanta celebrated his birthday at the house of the First Couple in Makati City.

“I also challenge him [Roque] to give me a photo of Franco Mabanta and President Marcos Jr. together,” Castro said.

At a Palace briefing on Wednesday, Castro said Marcos and Mabanta were not friends, and showed photos of Mabanta with former president Rodrigo Duterte and his family and allies.  — Mark Ernest Villeza