Mabanta: Marcos Jr. Social Media Director for 6 Months in 2018
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu – Malacañang confirmed on Friday that Franco Mabanta, founder of Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN), served as social media director for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for a period of six months in 2018. The Palace clarified the duration of Mabanta’s involvement following recent discussions surrounding his appointment and subsequent resignation from a government position.
According to the statement released by Malacañang, Mabanta’s role was specifically focused on managing the President's social media presence. The six-month tenure occurred prior to Marcos Jr.'s election in 2022. Details of Mabanta’s responsibilities and the specific strategies employed during his time as social media director were not elaborated upon in the Palace statement.
The clarification comes amidst scrutiny regarding Mabanta's recent appointment and subsequent stepping down from his post within a government agency. While the specifics of the circumstances surrounding his departure remain unclear, the Palace’s statement aims to provide context regarding his previous association with the Marcos Jr. administration. The timeline provided helps to distinguish between his past role and his more recent involvement.
Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN) is a digital marketing and content creation agency. Mabanta’s founding of and leadership within PGMN is a separate matter from his temporary role directing the social media for then-presidential candidate Marcos Jr. Further information on the reasons behind his resignation from the government position is expected to be released separately.