Naghain ang 41 mambabatas ng House Resolution No. 1006 para paimbestigahan sa Kamara ang umano’y robbery extortion activities na iniuugnay sa Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN).
Natanggap ng House Bills and Index Service ang resolusyon nitong Martes, May 12. Hinihiling nito sa House Committees on Public Order and Safety, Information and Communications Technology, at Public Information na imbestigahan ang alegasyon.
“When a group allegedly prepares damaging material, holds it back and demands money in exchange for not releasing it, that is not journalism. That is extortion,” ani Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, chair ng House Committee on Higher and Technical Education.
“Kaisa tayo ng bansa sa pagpapahalaga sa malayang panamahayag. But PGMN is far from practicing real journalism. This resolution intends to expose PGMN’s alleged extortion activities and unmask it as a mere fake news peddler,” dagdag niya.
Inihain ang resolusyon matapos ang mga ulat sa pagkakaaresto kay PGMN founder Franco Mabanta at ilang iba pa sa NBI entrapment operation kaugnay ng umano’y P300-million extortion attempt.
Nauna nang nag-deliver si Acidre ng privilege speech kung saan nanawagan siya ng imbestigasyon sa tinawag niyang “digital blackmail outfits.”
Kasama ni Acidre sa resolusyon sina Reps. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, Andrew Julian Romualdez, 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, Franz F. Vincent Legazpi, 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, Christopher Sheen Gonzales, Jose Aquino II, Adrian Salceda, Ma Isabel Sagarbarria, Miguel Luis Villafuerte, Alfredo Marañon III, Girlie Veloso, Ma Alana Samantha Taliño Santos, Antolin Oreta III, Dante Garcia, Reynaldo Salvacion, Ziaur-Rahman Alonto Adiong, at Marcelino Libanan.
Kinatawan ng mga lumagda ang Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, National Unity Party, at Party-list bloc.
Giit ng resolusyon, dapat protektahan ang free expression, pero hindi dapat gamitin ang press freedom bilang panangga sa umano’y criminal conduct.
“While freedom of speech and of the press are protected constitutional rights, these freedoms do not shield acts that may constitute robbery, extortion, grave threats, coercion, cybercrime, or other unlawful conduct,” saad nito.
Tinukoy ng resolusyon ang recent allegations laban sa PGMN “in connection with supposed acts of robbery extortion directed against Representative Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.”
Binanggit din nito ang posibleng paglabag sa Revised Penal Code provisions sa robbery, grave threats, grave coercion, at libel, pati Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 provisions sa cyber libel, aiding or abetting cybercrime, at cyber-enabled offenses.
Mas malawak ding nais silipin ng Kamara kung nagagamit ang online platforms, digital media networks, o organized content operations para gipitin ang public officials at private individuals.
“The alleged acts, if proven true, raise serious concerns on the possible use of online platforms, digital media networks, or organized content operations to pressure, threaten, intimidate, or extract money, favors, concessions, or other benefits from public officials or private individuals,” saad ng resolusyon.
Layunin din ng inquiry na alamin kung compliant ang PGMN at mga taong kaugnay nito sa laws and regulations sa registration, taxation, lawful business operations, online monetization, at digital platform activities.
Pinapaimbitahan sa hearings ang PGMN officers, content creators, administrators, representatives, complainants, witnesses, law enforcement officers, digital platform representatives, at affected parties para matukoy ang facts, circumstances, intent, at accountability sa likod ng mga alegasyon.
Nanawagan din ang resolusyon ng koordinasyon sa Department of Justice, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, Anti-Cybercrime Group, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, National Telecommunications Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, Bureau of Internal Revenue, at iba pang regulatory bodies.
Hihingi rin ang Kamara ng rekomendasyon para sa legislative at regulatory measures laban sa “robbery extortion, cyber-enabled coercion, organized harassment, and disinformation,” habang pinangangalagaan ang legitimate journalism, whistleblowing, public commentary, at constitutionally protected speech. /Bistado