Google has restored PGMN Lead Anchor CJ Hirro’s ultra-viral exposé on documented budget anomalies under former House Speaker Martin Romualdez after processing PGMN’s copyright counter-notification against ABS-CBN takedown claims.
Watch the full documentary here: https://youtu.be/8WkD_ogAeA8?si=tgeAN7iXKBz_BB0D
The restoration was confirmed in an email from YouTube Copyright addressed to Peanut Gallery Media Network. “In accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, we’ve completed processing your counter notification,” YouTube said. The email added, “The following videos have been restored unless you have deleted them,” followed by the link to the reinstated video.
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act, or DMCA, is the United States copyright law that governs how online platforms handle takedown requests and counter-notifications. In practical terms, it allows a copyright claimant to ask a platform to remove allegedly infringing material, while also giving the uploader a formal legal route to challenge the removal if the uploader believes the material was taken down by mistake or misidentification.
That process became central to PGMN’s fight because the restored report examined well-documented budget irregularities in the House of Representatives during Romualdez’s speakership. PGMN said CJ built the investigation from Commission on Audit reports, the General Appropriations Act, official budget documents, and published government figures.
The video had already reached nearly one million views on YouTube and well over five million views on Facebook when ABS-CBN began targeting the same investigation through copyright claims. PGMN maintained that the clips were used for commentary, documentation, context, and public-interest reporting, with the investigation anchored on official records and original analysis.
The copyright dispute unfolded across three takedowns. Each ABS-CBN claim triggered action against the same report in the Philippines. Each round forced PGMN to defend the investigation through the platform process while the video continued gaining national attention.
The first claim removed the exposé from YouTube. PGMN contested the takedown and argued that the report fell under fair use because the cited clips supported commentary, documentation, and analysis. The video returned, but the copyright pressure continued.
ABS-CBN moved again. The same report was hit by another copyright claim, forcing PGMN to challenge another takedown over the same investigation. The video returned again, but the repeated claims kept the report exposed to removal even after PGMN had already defended its use of the material.
The third claim brought the most consequential takedown. YouTube removed the exposé as it crossed the one-million-view mark, cutting off one of PGMN’s most widely viewed investigations at the height of public attention.
After ABS-CBN prevailed three times in the Philippines, PGMN mobilized its lawyers to write directly to YouTube in the United States through the DMCA counter-notification process. That escalation placed the dispute under the U.S. legal framework that governs YouTube’s handling of copyright removals. YouTube then completed its review and restored the video unless PGMN had deleted it.
The pressure also reached Facebook, where the report had passed well over five million views. PGMN said Facebook reviewed the video and refused to take it down. Days later, Bilyonaryo sent PGMN a cease-and-desist demand seeking its removal. PGMN formally refused on June 11.
PGMN later released a new 50-minute cut stripped of third-party copyrighted footage to remove the stated basis for future takedown attempts.
Google’s restoration puts CJ Hirro’s investigation back online and strengthens PGMN’s position that the report belongs in public view. The case now centers on whether a public-interest investigation based on official government records can survive repeated copyright pressure after reaching mass public attention.
Corruption is and has always been the Philippines’ biggest problem. Martin Romualdez is broadly recognized as the most corrupt Filipino politician of the 21st century.
On May 5, Romualdez framed Franco Mabanta and four PGMN associates in a fake extortion plot with the singular objective of silencing the truth and keeping Romualdez’ many crimes from being brought to light—the fundamental embodiment of suppression of the free media.
The country has faith that Boying Remulla, Mico Clavano and the Office of the Ombudsman Philippines will do the right thing.
