Court allows Jay Sonza to post bail for cyberlibel case

MANILA, Philippines — The Pasay Regional Trial Court (RTC) has rectified the charges against former broadcaster Jay Sonza and has allowed him to post a P10,000 bail following his recent arrest for cyberlibel by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

READ: Jay Sonza arrested over cyberlibel case – NBI chief

To recall, Pasay City RTC Branch 118 issued an order on April 30 directing the issuance of a warrant of arrest against Sonza after finding probable cause against him for allegedly spreading fake medical information about President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

The charges against the former broadcaster were initially set as non-bailable.

However, in a new order dated May 2, the Pasay RTC rectified the charge.

“Upon closer examination of the warrant of arrest that it issued where it stated that the offense is not bailable, the Court rectifies the same and hereby fixes the amount of bail at Ten Thousand Pesos (Php10,000.00) for the provisional liberty of the accused,” the new order read.

It also set Soza’s arraignment on Monday, May 4 at 8:30 a.m.

Sonza was arrested on Thursday evening the same day the arrest warrant was released and was taken into custody by the NBI.

The charge stems from cyber libel complaints filed against him and another vlogger, Jeffrey Luces Celiz, for the alleged dissemination of fake medical records of the President. /gsg