Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Zyann Ambrosio

Lyza Aquino

ABS-CBN News

MANILA (2nd UPDATE) -- National Bureau of Investigation officers arrested former broadcaster Jay Sonza on Thursday for spreading misinformation online.The complaint against Sonza stemmed from his online posts about the health of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., according to the NBI.Sonza is accused of spreading fake news, under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act.He was arrested in his house in Quezon City.Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) of the Philippines penalizes the unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances.It covers spreading false news that endangers public order or damages the state&#x27;s interest, inciting disobedience to law/authorities, or publishing unauthorized official documents.According to NBI, the arrest stemmed from earlier case buildup and cyber-surveillance operations conducted in January 2026, wherein Sonza was identified as one of those responsible for circulating unverified and misleading information involving Marcos, including a purported CT-scan report and statements alleging Marcos&#x27; deteriorating health.The warrant reportedly classified the offense as &quot;not bailable&quot;.<div>DEFENSE QUESTIONS ARREST AND WARRANT</div>Sonza’s legal counsel, Atty. Mark Tolentino, questioned both the arrest and the classification of the charge as not bailable, arguing that the penalty for the alleged offense is minimal.“Actually yung kaso, expected na ito but di namin expected na arestuhin siya today. Kasi nagusap kami kaninang umaga, yung kaso kasi na na-file sa court dalawa yan, yun tinatawag na cyber libel and yung unlawful publication, but yung na-issuehan ng warrant yung unlawful publication. Very minimal na kaso lang iyan. I think nasa 6 months imprisonment lang iyan so mali yung, ang problema mali yung nakalagay sa warrant of arrest,” Tolentino said.“Nakalagay dun non-bailable. Ang kaso na ito is 6 months lang yata ang kaso na penalty, very minimal offense, RTC lang ang jurisdiction kasi in relation to cybercrime, that’s why umakyat siya ang kaso na ito dapat MTC lang.”He added that the case was elevated to the RTC due to its cybercrime component.“But because of the internet aspect umakyat siya sa RTC. This is a bailable offense of bail not required, so ibig sabihin walang authority ang NBI na mag-aresto, ang problema maybe nagkamali ang court nag-issue ng warrant, bakit nag-issue ng warrant na this is the bail is not required in this case,” he said.Tolentino also noted that no warrant has yet been issued for the separate cyber libel case.The defense plans to challenge the arrest before the court and seek Sonza’s immediate release.“We will file a proper manifestation sa court na to issue an order informing or requiring the NBI to release immediately our client on the ground na wala sila legal basis to detain,” Tolentino said. “Una yes, maybe there’s a warrant of arrest but dapat walang warrant of arrest na inissue ang court, second non-bailable is different from not bail required.”He emphasized that law enforcement officers were acting on the court’s order, regardless of any alleged error.“They were only ordered by the court to arrest, maybe mali yung order ng court but wala sa trabaho nila iyan eh, kung ano nakalagay sa court ano nakalagay sa order, mali man o hindi mali, trabaho nila ano nakalagay doon,” he said.Tolentino said the defense would seek court action as soon as possible.“We will try tomorrow kung may court, kung wala, Monday,” he added.He also questioned the basis of the complaint and the NBI’s role in filing the case.“Itong kaso na ito nag-file NBI reason nila may fake publication daw about health of the president so yun yung inissue ko cinite ko na argument sa preliminary investigation bakit ang NBI ang nag-file? Una ang NBI wala naman personal knowledge about that publication,” he said.“Second the NBI is not the offended party, maybe they have the authority to investigate, but wala sila personal knowledge ano nangyari and may question din ako bakit sa Pasay finile? Maybe they filed in Pasay kasi ang office ng NBI dito sa Pasay, allegedly the offended party is the President of the Philippines, saan ba opisina ng presidente? Sa Malacañang. Saan ang Malacañang? Manila hindi naman sa Pasay.”The court has yet to issue a statement regarding the defense’s claims.Sonza is now detained at the NBI Headquarters in Pasay City.<div> </div><div> </div><div>RELATED VIDEO:</div><div><iframe width="458" height="814" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fCfv-XZ5yfU" title="Jay Sonza arestado dahil sa pagpapakalat umano ng fake news tungkol kay BBM | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

Sonza is accused of spreading fake news, under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

Sonza is accused of spreading fake news, under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

Jay Sonza arrested for spreading misinformation online

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Jay Sonza arrested for spreading misinformation online

Zyann Ambrosio,

Lyza Aquino,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 30, 2026 09:10 PM PHT

|

Updated May 01, 2026 01:00 AM PHT

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Jay Sonza

misinformation

fake news

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