Edu Manzano and his girlfriend Ann Cuisia have clarified that they are not employees of the online channel Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN), but only "volunteer content contributors."
Clarification After Arrest
The clarification came after PGMN founder Franco Mabanta was linked to an alleged extortion case involving former House speaker Martin Romualdez. Mabanta was arrested on May 6, 2026, over allegations that he attempted to extort P350 million from Romualdez in exchange for silence regarding alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
Joint Statement
"We were volunteer content contributors, not journalists. We were not employees. We had no contracts, no salary, no talent fee and no commercial arrangement," Edu and Ann said in a joint statement. The couple emphasized that their involvement with PGMN was purely voluntary and without any financial compensation.
The statement aims to distance themselves from the legal troubles of Mabanta, who remains in custody pending investigation. The case has drawn significant media attention due to the high-profile nature of the individuals involved.
