Court Apologizes: Sonza Unjustly Detained; Bail Denied Error

Court Apologizes: Sonza Unjustly Detained; Bail Denied Error

By Bing Jabadan – TheNATIONWEEK.com | May 5, 2026

PASAY CITY, Philippines – The Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 118 of Pasay City has formally apologized to former broadcaster Jay Sonza for the “erroneous issuance” of an arrest warrant without bail in a cyber libel case, an offense that is, by law, bailable. Sonza, represented by Atty. Mark Tolentino, was “unjustly deprived of his liberty for five days” due to the mistake.

In an official statement released by Atty. Tolentino on May 4, 2026, the Court attributed the error to issues with its online bail processing platform, asserting that the warrant’s issuance was “not intentional.” Despite the five-day detention, Sonza and his counsel have “humbly accepted the apology” in the interest of moving forward. The defense, however, stressed that no order authorizing bail was received during the period leading to Sonza’s extended detention over a holiday weekend.

Jurisdictional Challenges Raised

The scheduled arraignment on May 4 did not proceed, as the defense filed a motion to quash, citing “serious jurisdictional issues.” Key among these defects are:

Failure to Allege Jurisdiction

The Information reportedly omits the crucial detail that Pasay City was the actual place of commission for the alleged offense, a prerequisite for establishing proper jurisdiction.

NBI’s Lack of Legal Standing

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is challenged for its role as complainant, as it is neither the offended party nor possesses the personal knowledge required by law to initiate such a complaint.

“Given these fundamental defects, we maintain that the case is legally infirm and subject to dismissal,” Atty. Tolentino stated, reiterating the commitment to defend Sonza’s constitutional rights and hold accountable any actions resulting in unlawful deprivation of liberty.

Cyber Libel Allegations and Ongoing Cases

Sonza’s arrest stemmed from charges of “unlawful publication” related to allegedly spreading false information about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s health. The charges, filed on February 16, also implicated fellow vlogger Jeffrey Celiz (alias Ka Eric Celiz). They are accused of sharing a forged CT scan report, bearing the St. Luke’s Medical Center logo, to falsely claim the President was medically unfit for office. St. Luke’s Medical Center has denied the authenticity of the purported medical documents.

President Marcos Jr. had publicly disclosed a diagnosis of diverticulitis in January, attributing it to stress and aging.

Separately, the defense is awaiting action from RTC Branch 111 regarding a potential arrest warrant for another cyber libel case against Sonza. Atty. Tolentino affirmed readiness to “post bail immediately to secure the liberty of Jay Sonza without delay” should a warrant be issued.

Government Vows Continued Crackdown on “Fake News”

Following Sonza’s arrest, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) lauded the NBI’s action and reaffirmed its commitment to combating “fake news.” PCO Secretary Dave Gomez stated that the office’s “Oplan Kontra Fake News” initiative serves as a “stern warning” that such acts “undermine public trust, endanger lives, and will be met with lawful consequences.” The PCO has forwarded several cases to the Department of Justice for investigation and prosecution.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag previously confirmed Sonza’s arrest on the warrant from Pasay City RTC, dismissing concerns about the timing of the arrest on the eve of a holiday weekend. Matibag noted that the NBI’s directive was solely to implement a legitimately issued warrant and that agents had to locate Sonza across multiple listed addresses. The NBI is also reportedly building cases against other individuals involved in disseminating the President’s alleged fake medical records. Earlier, vlogger Jack Argota also faced similar complaints after posting the records, claiming he merely “kept up with the trend.”