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GMA Network
26-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Bong Revilla eyeing raps vs. fake news peddlers after Eleksyon 2025 loss —lawyer
Senator Ramon 'Bong' Revilla Jr. is eyeing to file cyberlibel charges against individuals who purportedly spread fake news against him, which his camp believed was the reason for his loss in his 2025 reelection bid. Lawyer Raymond Fortun, Revilla's counsel, made the announcement in a press conference in the Senate Monday, exactly two weeks after the May 12 midterm elections. 'It is regrettable that his aspiration to continue to be of service to the country had been derailed due to the insidious work done by certain groups and individuals who had spread fake news on social media which, unfortunately, were accepted as gospel truth by the unsuspecting public,' Fortun said. 'After consulting with his family, Senator Revilla has decided to defend his and the family's reputation by exercising the legal remedies for people whose reputations are harmed through online platforms like social media, blogs, websites. It is his hope that doing so would discourage the use of anonymity or digital platforms to malign others without consequence,' he added. Fortun, who noted that the senator usually ranks high every senatorial elections, specifically mentioned false information about the Sandiganbayan ruling on the PDAF plunder case against Revilla. 'Notwithstanding such acquittals, certain individuals and groups during the run-up to the 2025 elections continued to vilify him by spreading fake posts that he had been convicted and ordered by the Sandiganbayan to return P124,500,000. This is a vicious lie, with the clear and malevolent intent to damage Senator Revilla's good name and reputation,' he said. Fortun argued that Revilla has no obligation to return the P124 million because he was acquitted in the plunder case against him. 'Kung acquitted siya, hindi po maaari na siya ay mapatawan ng civil damages dahil sinabi nga na abswelto siya eh. This is the decision itself made by the Sandiganbayan,' he said. (If he was acquitted, it cannot be that he will be meted civil damages precisely because he was acquitted.) The Sandiganbayan found businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles and Revilla's former chief of staff Richard Cambe guilty of plunder and sentenced to reclusion perpetua. The anti-graft court's decision read: "For failure of the prosecution to establish beyond reasonable doubt that accused Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr. received, directly or indirectly the rebates, commission, and kickbacks from his PDAF, the Court cannot hold him liable for the crime of Plunder. Accordingly, he is ACQUITTED." "Moreover, in view of the discussion above, and pursuant to Article 100 of the Revised Penal Code, accused are held solidarily and jointly liable to return to the National Treasury the amount of One Hundred Twenty-Four Million, Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 124.500,000.00)," it added. Coordinate with NBI According to Fortun, Revilla's camp will coordinate with the National Bureau of Investigation to identify the five to 10 individuals who spread 'malicious' posts against him, most of which were published two weeks before the May 12 polls. Fortun did not disclose the names or usernames of those who allegedly peddled fake news against Revilla. He, however, showed a screenshot of one post which supposedly altered one of Revilla's campaign speeches. Asked if they believe the misinformation and disinformation campaign against Revilla was organized, Fortun said 'it does not appear' to be organized. He then mentioned that they already discounted the possibility that the misinformation campaign was from the Duterte camp. 'Lumalabas na kung mayroon mang grupo, ngayon sasabihin ko na, walang kinalaman po yung kampo ng mga Duterte. Didiretsuhin ko na po…The camp of the former President [Rodrigo Duterte] has nothing to do with this' Fortun said. (I have to disclose now that if there is a group behind this, it is not identified with the Dutertes. The camp of former President Rodrigo Duterte has nothing to do with this.) For his reelection bid, Revilla ran under the banner of Lakas-CMD which is one of the political parties that composed the Marcos administration's Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas. 'Usually, akala natin 'yung laban ng grupo ng mga Marcos at 'yung grupo ng mga Duterte, hindi po. Lumalabas po na, it appears to be somebody else's move,' Fortun said, but refused to disclose to identify the group that he was referring to. (Usually, we thought that it would be a fight between the Marcos and Duterte camps. It appears to be somebody else's move.) In a phone interview, Revilla admitted that he was sad because he became a 'victim of fake news' and he is still adjusting with the results of the elections. Asked if he thinks that the campaign against him was orchestrated, Revilla said, 'Sa aking palagay, yes, orchestrated ito. Kung anong kulay ayoko nang alamin. Siguro, that's part of politics.' (I think yes, it was orchestrated. I don't want to know what color anymore. Maybe, that's part of politics.) 'Ang 'di maganda dito, 'yung fake news. Di naman tayo onion-skinned dahil marami na akong pinagdaanan sa public service… pero 'yung mapaniwala natin ang taumbayan sa kasinungalingan 'yun talaga ang di talaga tama,' he said. (What is not good is the fake news. I am not onion-skinned since I've gone through a lot in public service. But to influence the public via fake news is not right.) ''Di dapat palagpasin kung nangyari na ito noon, this time siguro, I will not allow it again. Kailangan mapanagot sila,' he added. (We should not let this pass. If it had happened in the past, this time, I will not allow it. They should be held responsible.) Revilla failed to continue his second term in the Senate after he landed on the 14th spot in the 2025 senatorial race. — with a report from Llanesca T. Panti/AOL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fortun Marks First Anniversary With $6.4 Million Funded, 1,000 Small Businesses Supported, and National Footprint Established
MIAMI, FL - May 20, 2025 (NEWMEDIAWIRE) - Fortun, the fintech division of Luminar Media Group, Inc. (OTCMARKETS: LRGR), celebrates its first anniversary, marking a pivotal year of rapid growth, execution, and nationwide impact. Since its formation in late May 2024, Fortun has transformed from a startup to a trusted funding partner for small businesses across the United States, including Puerto Rico. Key Milestones Achieved (May 2024 May 2025): $6.4 million in working capital deployed Nearly 1,000 funding transactions completed $5.3 million in receivables $4.7 million+ in capital recovered $5.6 million+ in total assets Presence in 38 states + Puerto Rico Corporate headquarters established in Miami, FL Successful launch of Fortun Online, a digital capital access platform Strategic advisory partnership secured Yoel Damas, President and CEO of Luminar Media Group, stated:"Fortun started as a bold idea - to bridge the capital gap for small businesses. One year later, we've deployed over $6.4 million, completed nearly 1,000 transactions, and built a platform that delivers real results. This is just the beginning as we continue to redefine what small business financing can be." Juan Sese, VP of Finance added:"This first year was about building momentum and proving our model. Every dollar funded represents an opportunity created, and every dollar collected reflects the trust we've earned. With over $5.6 million+ in total assets and presence in 38 states + Puerto Rico, we're just getting started." About Luminar Media Group, Inc/Fortun CorpFortun, a division of Luminar Media Group, Inc. (OTCMARKETS: LRGR), is a fintech platform headquartered in Miami, Florida, offering flexible, non-bank working capital solutions to small businesses across the U.S. Through its FortunCo, Fortun Advance, and Fortun Online subsidiaries, the company delivers efficient, responsible financing to support entrepreneurs and business owners nationwide. Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release may include forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially. Investors are encouraged to review Luminar Media Group's public filings for additional disclosures. Contact:Robert RicoInvestor RelationsPhone: (305) 283-9237Email: robert@ us on X: @FortunCorp
Associated Press
02-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Luminar Media Group/Fortun Releases Q1 2025 Financial Results
NEWMEDIAWIRE) - Luminar Media Group, Inc. ('Luminar') (OTCMARKETS: LRGR), along with its subsidiaries FortunCo LLC, Fortun Advance LLC, Fortun Funding LLC, and Fortun Online, LLC (collectively, 'Fortun'), a leading group of fintech companies providing working capital and financial services to underserved businesses, is proud to announce its Q1 2025 financial results. Total assets now exceed $4.5 million. Building on a robust Q4 2024, Luminar continues to achieve remarkable performance driven by improvements in operational efficiency and strong customer demand including repeat business. Performance this quarter exceeded expectations; Luminar is experiencing growth in all business segments driven by increased demand for Fortun services. Luminar anticipates continued growth quarter-over-quarter and expects to expand its 2025 target goals. Q1 2025 Financial Results • Total Funded: $1,879,704.34 • Total Automated Clearing House (ACH) Funds Received: $1,797,612.30 (60% growth vs. Q4, improved collection process) • Total Accounts Receivable (AR): $3,997,197.21 (32.4% growth vs. Q4) • Total Cash on Hand: $570,128.29 • Total Assets (AR + Cash): $4,567,325 • Number of Deals Funded in Q1: 261 (18% higher than Q4) • Total States Funded to Date: 37 plus Puerto Rico Business Performance Update As of March 31, 2025, Fortun Advance's total assets have reached $4,567,325, including $570,128.29 in cash and $3,997,197.21 in receivables—a significant rise since Luminar Media Group's acquisition of Fortun in May 2024. Market Insight Small businesses are a vital part of the U.S. economy, contributing over $800 billion annually. The increasing number of small business owners highlights their essential role in economic growth and job creation, driving demand for accessible financing solutions like those offered by Fortun. Juan Sese, Chief Financial Officer for Fortun Advance, commented: 'Crossing the $4.5 million mark in total assets is a significant achievement for us. Our Q1 2025 performance underscores the strength of our business model, and we're confident that Q2 will bring even more growth as we continue to support small businesses with innovative financial solutions.' Yoel Damas, President and CEO, added: 'Fortun remains laser-focused on delivering strong, sustainable growth and maximizing shareholder value. This quarter, we achieved solid expansion across multiple sectors and strengthened our financial performance. We strategically dedicated this quarter to targeting key acquisitions and partnerships that will fuel accelerated expansion in the months ahead. As these strategic initiatives take effect, we will be on track for even faster growth than initially projected for the year and well-positioned to capitalize on other opportunities as they arise.' About Luminar Media Group, Inc. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Luminar Media Group, Inc. is a pioneering fintech company specializing in financial solutions for underserved communities, with a focus on Latino and minority-owned businesses. Through innovation and excellence, Fortun empowers businesses to drive economic growth. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements that reflect Luminar Media Group's current strategies and expectations for future performance. Actual results may differ materially due to various risks and uncertainties. Investors are encouraged to review the Company's filings with the SEC for further information. The financial data presented in this release is subject to review by independent accountants and may be adjusted before final reporting. Please note that the information provided is preliminary and should not be considered final until it has undergone a full review. For more information, please contact: Robert Rico Investor Relations
