The legal team of veteran broadcaster Jay Sonza moved to dismiss the cybercrime-related charges against him on Monday, arguing that the Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) lacks the proper jurisdiction to hear the case.
Sonza’s counsel, Atty. Mark Tolentino, contended that since the allegations involve misinformation directed at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the case should have been filed where the complainant resides.
Tolentino pointed out that the President does not live in Pasay City, making the court an improper venue for the proceedings.
Sonza was arrested by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents at his Quezon City home on Thursday night, April 30, following a warrant issued by Pasay RTC Branch 118.
KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CASE
- The Charges: Sonza is accused of violating Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code (Unlawful Use of Means of Publication and Unlawful Utterances) in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. The case stems from the alleged circulation of a fabricated medical bulletin regarding the President’s health in January 2026.
- Warrant Rectification: The initial arrest warrant classified the offense as “non-bailable,” a designation Tolentino criticized as a “legal misstep” for a relatively minor offense. On May 2, the Pasay court rectified the order, setting bail at ₱10,000.
- Temporary Release: Despite the bail being set, Sonza’s camp is reportedly pushing for his temporary release through recognizance, citing his age (71) and existing health conditions, including acute asthma and COPD.
Investigators from the NBI Cybercrime Division stated that the arrest was the result of months of digital forensic tracking and surveillance. They maintained that despite the deletion of original posts, they have preserved authenticated evidence of the unverified medical records that circulated online.
Sonza is scheduled for arraignment at 8:30 a.m. today, May 4, where his team is expected to formally present their motion to quash the case based on the jurisdictional challenge.