Tahasang nagdeklara ng "digmaan" ang Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN) laban kay Leyte 1st District Rep. at dating House Speaker Martin Romualdez matapos nitong ilabas ang isang matapang na pahayag na tinawag nilang “Day 1 of the War.”
Sa kanilang Facebook post nitong Sabado, Hunyo 20, sinabi ng PGMN na sisimulan na nila ang umano’y misyon na ilantad ang mga alegasyon ng katiwalian laban kay Romualdez at ipanawagan ang pananagutan nito sa batas.
Ayon sa grupo, nakatanggap umano sila ng mga death threat, panunuhol, at iba’t ibang uri ng paninira habang isinusulong nila ang kanilang kampanya laban sa kongresista.
Inilahad din ng PGMN na nakaranas umano sila ng mga pekeng akusasyon, gawa-gawang screenshots, video, at reklamong anila’y layuning sirain ang kanilang kredibilidad.
"Day 1 of the War. Today PGMN begins its improbable new mission to finally take down Martin Romualdez," anila.
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"There have been legitimate death threats. There have been financial offers to turn on each other and lie under oath. There have been so many fabricated rumors, so many false accusations, so many fake screenshots and videos, so many fraudulent charges by the corrupt individuals that Martin has paid off — all in the name of ruining our credibility as we endeavor to finally see him meet justice. And there will be more. We’re not naive. We know this," anila pa.
Sa kabila nito, iginiit nilang hindi sila uurong sa kanilang kampanya.
Tinawag pa ng PGMN si Romualdez bilang “the single most corrupt Filipino politician of the 21st century,” bagama’t hindi naman sila naglatag ng partikular na ebidensiya sa naturang pahayag sa kanilang post.
Ayon pa sa media network, plano nilang maglabas ng mga impormasyon at alegasyon kaugnay sa panunungkulan ni Romualdez noon bilang Speaker ng Kamara araw-araw hanggang sa umano’y mapanagot ito.
Inihalintulad din nila ang kanilang laban sa kuwento nina David at Goliath, at sinabing handa silang harapin ang anumang pagsubok sa kanilang kampanya.
"This is as real as any David-versus-Goliath situation that any of us have ever attempted to win. The circumstances are daunting…but we will not be intimidated," anila.
"The road ahead will be painful and challenging, but we will fight this war — not just because PGMN was built on the backs of fighters, and not just because the country benefits monumentally from seeing its biggest villain finally imprisoned — but because it is what we believe in our hearts that God wants from us right now. Come hell or high water, we will keep our word."
"As he did with David, Jesus has us."
Sa pagpapatuloy pa, "As is the case for all honest anti-Romualdez content on social media these days, this post will be hit by a big troll farm again. Locked profiles with no posts, no friends, no pictures, all created last week. Martin is in trouble with the Ombudsman and wants to make sure that anyone that speaks out against him now will be attacked by a call center of hateful ogres."
"But we know you're not naive. You weren't born yesterday. You know to look at the substance of the content itself rather than the reactions and comments from empty accounts with no profiles."
"Remember: the biggest problem in the Philippines is and has always been corruption. The most corrupt politician of the 21st century is Martin Romualdez."
"He's trying to silence us. Don't let him silence you," anila pa.
Photo courtesy: Screenshot from Peanut Gallery Media Network (FB)
Matatandaang kamakailan lamang, hinuli ng National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) ang CEO at founder ng PGMN na si Franco Mabanta, dahil sa reklamong pangingikil kay Romualdez, na kalaunan, ay nakapagpiyansa.
Maki-Balita: 'We are innocent. This was setup!' Franco Mabanta, nagsalita matapos dakpin ng NBI dahil kay Romualdez
Noong Hunyo 11, naglabas naman ng matapang na pahayag si Mabanda na hindi sila titigil hangga't hindi napapanagot ang mambabatas sa mga alegasyon ng korapsyon, lalo na sa flood control scam.
Maki-Balita: Franco Mabanta, PGMN kay Rep. Martin Romualdez: 'We are not backing down!'
Sa ngayon, wala pang inilalabas na tugon si Romualdez kaugnay sa mga paratang at pahayag ng media network.
