Jay Legazpi Alfaro, Benjamin Gigante and Ramesis Sison of Masbate Quad Media Society (MQMS) and information officers Fel Monares for the local government of Cawayan, and Peter Corpus for the local government of Pio V. Corpuz in Masbate and NU Media member were all charged with trumped-up murder and accused of being NPA members. This was conducted after they filed eleven cases of plunder against Masbate Governor Antonio Kho and his staff on March 25 regarding corruption in local provincial projects.

The five were accused of allegedly killing one Virgil Arriesgado in an encounter between the NPA and reactionary government forces on August 12, 2022 in Brgy Guindawahan, Pio V. Corpuz, Masbate. No encounter was reported that time.

The RTC 5th Judicial Region, Branch 49, Cataingan Masbate issued an arrest warrant against the accused on July 12 without conducting a preliminary investigation.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) belied claims that the victims are NPA members. It said the purpose of the fabricated cases is clearly to intimidate media personnel in the province.

Sison was a former NUJP-Masbate Chapter Chairperson from 2011 to 2013. Corpus is a freelance reporter overseeing the Chronicle News and Pubic Affairs in Masbate City, while Monares is the station manager of Radyo Kahamugaway DWNZ 106.5FM and President of NU Media. Alfaro is secretary of MQMS and Dj/ Reporter of The Ranch 95.9FM and Wow Smile Radio 99.9 FM Sorsogon.

The court granted the motion to withdraw the arrest warrant against the five on July 25.