PGMN Lead Anchor Cj Hirro stood firm behind her investigative reports questioning the misuse of public funds involving former Quezon City 4th District Rep. Marvin Rillo, refusing to apologize or retract her findings despite facing seven cyberlibel charges filed by the former lawmaker.
In an official statement released Oct. 30, Hirro confirmed that she voluntarily appeared before Branch 90 of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, accompanied by her three-year-old daughter, to post ₱336,000 in cash bail. Following the payment, she was granted provisional liberty, and the warrant of arrest issued against her was set aside.
The legal dispute traces back to Hirro’s investigative episodes examining Rillo’s misuse of public funds, discrepancies in government infrastructure projects, and campaign statements that she said were inconsistent with official records.
Among the central issues raised in her reporting was the ₱71-million Carlos L. Albert High School gymnasium project in Quezon City. According to Hirro, official bidding documents included roofing, floor tiles, doors, and windows, yet more than a year after the project was promised, the construction site reportedly had little more than foundations and posts.
Rillo’s camp maintained that the construction represented only the project’s first phase. Hirro challenged that explanation, arguing that the original bidding documents did not identify a phased implementation or funding for subsequent phases.
Hirro said her first investigative episode prompted warnings of legal action from currently suspended lawyer Jesus Falcis, who threatened lawsuits on Rillo’s behalf. Rather than abandoning her investigation, she subsequently produced two additional episodes examining the former congressman’s statements and the use of public resources.
Rillo eventually filed his complaint in July 2025, approximately two months after losing his reelection bid. According to Hirro, the seven cyberlibel counts arose from just two videos, with their publication across different social media platforms treated as separate offenses requiring individual bail amounts.
However, Hirro emphasized that the prosecutor’s resolution did not sustain all the allegations raised against her.
She said her reporting concerning the ₱71-million gymnasium project was recognized as fair comment based on official government documents. Another video questioning where public funds had gone was likewise found to concern a legitimate matter of public interest, resulting in the dismissal of that portion of the complaint.
Hirro further disclosed that complaints against PGMN officers, including the network’s Founder and CEO Franco Mabanta, were also dismissed.
Following the issuance of the arrest warrant, Rillo publicly celebrated the court’s finding of probable cause, claiming that Hirro would now have to substantiate her allegations.
He also offered to withdraw his complaint if Hirro apologized for her statements against him, while warning that additional libel cases could follow if she refused.
“Kung ikaw ay hihingi ng paumanhin sa lahat ng nasabi mo sakin sino ba naman ako na hnd magpapatawad.. iaatras ko ang kaso laban sayo… ngunit kung ikaw ay mag mamatigas hnd lang po yan marami pa ako libel cases na isusunod sayo,” Rillo wrote on Facebook.
Hirro rejected the offer, questioning why the former lawmaker was demanding an apology instead of addressing the issues raised in her investigations.
“I have never sought his forgiveness, nor do I require it,” she declared.
She also stressed that the issuance of an arrest warrant does not establish guilt or prove that her investigative reports were false or defamatory. The court’s finding of probable cause allows the criminal proceedings to move forward, but the prosecution must still prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
For Hirro, the controversy extends beyond the personal and financial burden of defending herself in court. She maintained that journalists have a responsibility to scrutinize elected officials, examine government spending, and demand accountability when public resources are involved.
“I have no intention of apologizing for doing my job as a journalist. I have no intention of retracting findings that I believe are supported by evidence,” Hirro said.
Despite the ongoing cases, Hirro reaffirmed her commitment to investigative journalism and welcomed the opportunity to present the evidence supporting her reports before the court.
“I stand by my findings, my work, and my duty to the Filipino people. And so I will continue to ask the question that started it all: Nasaan ang pera?” she concluded.
