Former television and radio personality Jose Yumang Sonza, known as Jay Sonza, has posted bail amounting to ₱10,000 following a court order allowing his temporary release amid charges linked to his alleged posts about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Sonza’s lawyer, Mark Tolentino, said the Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 118 issued the release order.
“We welcome this development and are taking the necessary steps to secure his immediate release,” Tolentino said.
Sonza is being held at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) facility in Muntinlupa City.
The NBI arrested Sonza on April 30 following a warrant of arrest from the Pasay court for allegedly spreading false medical information about the president.
Sonza faces charges of unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act 10951, in relation to Section 6 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
The NBI said the warrant “indicates that the offense is not bailable.”
The arrest was carried out by operatives of the NBI Organized Crime Division in coordination with the bureau’s Cybercrime Division and Technical Intelligence Division.
Although the original posts were later deleted, the NBI said it was still able to secure evidence using digital forensic techniques, including verified screenshots and monitoring of shared or reposted content.
“These materials formed part of the evidence submitted before the Department of Justice, which led to the filing of charges and the eventual issuance of the warrant,” the NBI said.
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