Jay Sonza Granted Bail: A Legal Rollercoaster
In a dramatic turn of events, former TV host Jay Sonza has been granted a P10,000 bail after his recent arrest, a development confirmed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) over the weekend.
“Just yesterday, we received a new order from the Regional Trial Court of Pasay,” announced NBI director Melvin Matibag in a heartfelt video statement. “This order set Sonza’s bail at P10,000.”
The NBI has arranged to take Sonza to court bright and early at 8 a.m. on Monday, May 4.
Meanwhile, Sonza’s lawyer, Mark Tolentino, shared some hopeful news on Facebook. “Since today is a non-working day, and the courts are closed, we will post bail early tomorrow morning to secure his immediate release.”
The situation unfolded when NBI agents arrived at Sonza’s residence in Quezon City, taking him into custody over allegations of spreading false medical information concerning President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. This grave charge includes unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances under the Revised Penal Code, in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Initially, the warrant from the Pasay City Regional Trial Court stated that the offense was non-bailable. However, after delving deeper into legal interpretations, it became clear that Sonza’s charges were, in fact, bailable. GMA News discovered discrepancies in the court’s initial order, which led to a significant update.
The corrected court document read, “Upon closer examination, the Court rectifies the previous order and hereby sets the bail amount at Ten Thousand Pesos (Php 10,000.00) for the provisional liberty of the accused.”
The arraignment is now scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Monday. Tolentino has been vocal about his firm belief that Sonza’s charges are indeed bailable. “From the outset, we’ve maintained that the offense charged is bailable as a matter of right,” he emphasized. “The Court’s latest action affirms this position. The earlier issuance of a non-bailable warrant was legally erroneous and resulted in an unjust deprivation of liberty.”
With each twist and turn, the saga surrounding Jay Sonza continues to unfold. His legal team is committed to ensuring his swift release while addressing the irregularities present in this case. As the sun rises on Monday, all eyes will be on the courtroom, waiting to see where this rollercoaster journey leads next.
