### [2026-05-5](/feed/2026/05/5/index.md)

##### Pasig
# In Pasig, Philippines, the National Bureau of Investigation arrests the founder of an online news site and four other people, in an entrapment operation for an alleged extortion attempt on former House speaker Martin Romualdez. 




### Sources:

1. [Gulf News](https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/philippines/philippines-social-media-founder-franco-mabanta-arrested-following-alleged-350-million-romualdez-extortion-plot-1.500530705)
2. [PNA](https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1274433)

### Changes:

1. The National Bureau of Investigation arrests five individuals, including the founder of an online news site, in an entrapment operation in Pasig, Philippines, for an alleged extortion attempt on former House speaker Martin Romualdez.  _2026-05-06 15:33:19 (First version)_
1. In Pasig, Philippines, the National Bureau of Investigation arrests the founder of an online news site and four other people, in an entrapment operation for an alleged extortion attempt on former House speaker Martin Romualdez.  _(Current version)_

### Related:

1. [At least eight people are killed and more than 28,000 are displaced after Tropical Storm Penha makes landfall in the southern Philippines. ](/feed/2026/02/5/at-least-eight-people-are-killed-and-more-than-28000-are-displaced-after-tropical-storm-penha-makes-landfall-in-the-sou.md) _Context: Philippines_
2. [Former Philippine senator Bong Revilla surrenders to police after the Sandiganbayan ordered his arrest over the alleged misuse of ₱92.8 million (US$1.6 million) in a flood-control project, while the Ombudsman pursues graft and malversation charges against Revilla and several former public works officials. ](/feed/2026/01/19/former-philippine-senator-bong-revilla-surrenders-to-police-after-the-sandiganbayan-ordered-his-arrest-over-the-alleged.md) _Context: Philippines_
3. [The death toll from Typhoon Kalmaegi's impact on Visayas and Mindanao, Philippines, rises to at least 114, with search and rescue operations ongoing. ](/feed/2025/11/5/the-death-toll-from-typhoon-kalmaegi-s-impact-on-visayas-and-mindanao-philippines-rises-to-at-least-114-with-search-a.md) _Context: Philippines_
4. [The Philippine peso falls to a record low of ₱59.2 per U.S. dollar, which the country's central bank attributes to currency depreciation influenced by recent interest rate cuts and foreign investment outflows. ](/feed/2025/10/28/the-philippine-peso-falls-to-a-record-low-of-592-per-us-dollar-which-the-country-s-central-bank-attributes-to-cur.md) _Context: Philippines_
5. [The Philippines' anti-graft court acquits former Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile, his former chief of staff Gigi Reyes, and businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles of their remaining graft charges, citing failure to prove their guilt. The three had been charged over their alleged misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund. ](/feed/2025/10/24/the-philippines-anti-graft-court-acquits-former-senate-president-juan-ponce-enrile-his-former-chief-of-staff-gigi-reye.md) _Context: Philippines_
6. [The Philippine Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation file criminal graft and malversation charges against Senator Chiz Escudero, former senator Nancy Binay, and former house speaker Martin Romualdez in connection with investigations into alleged corruption in flood control projects. ](/feed/2025/09/25/the-philippine-department-of-justice-and-the-national-bureau-of-investigation-file-criminal-graft-and-malversation-charg.md) _Context: House speaker, Martin Romualdez, National Bureau of Investigation_
7. [Philippine house speaker Martin Romualdez resigns over his alleged involvement in the flood control controversy, with former deputy speaker Bojie Dy elected as the next speaker of the House of Representatives. ](/feed/2025/09/17/philippine-house-speaker-martin-romualdez-resigns-over-his-alleged-involvement-in-the-flood-control-controversy-with-fo.md) _Context: House speaker, Martin Romualdez_
8. [In his State of the Nation Address, Philippine president Bongbong Marcos orders a nationwide audit of flood control projects across the country, alongside a crackdown on corruption on these projects, in response to widespread damage caused by recent flooding resulting from Tropical Storm Wipha and the monsoon season. ](/feed/2025/07/28/in-his-state-of-the-nation-address-philippine-president-bongbong-marcos-orders-a-nationwide-audit-of-flood-control-proj.md) _Context: Philippines_
9. [A Chinese crew member is killed when Chinese sand barge vessel "M-V Hong Hai 16" capsizes off Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines. A search and rescue operation is launched by the Philippine Coast Guard for missing crew members, which includes seven Filipinos and three Chinese. ](/feed/2025/04/15/a-chinese-crew-member-is-killed-when-chinese-sand-barge-vessel-m-v-hong-hai-16-capsizes-off-rizal-occidental-mindoro.md) _Context: Philippines_
10. [Philippine National Bureau of Investigation agents arrest 100 people in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines, for allegedly running an online scam operation as offshore gaming operators are banned in the country. ](/feed/2025/01/31/philippine-national-bureau-of-investigation-agents-arrest-100-people-in-makati-metro-manila-philippines-for-allegedly.md) _Context: National Bureau of Investigation, Philippines_