NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Jay Sonza Released On Bail; All Non-Bailable Cases Dismissed
Photo credit: Jay Sonza
Controversial content creator and former broadcaster Jay Sonza has been released from custody after posting bail. The non-bailable cases that had been looming over him were all dismissed.
According to Atty. Israelito Torreon, the legal representative for Sonza, "He arrived back home around 8 PM last night. (August 22,2023) I missed him because I had just come from the Department of Justice. We had an appointment with the DOJ Secretary, which took longer than expected. When I checked, I found out he had already been released. He was able to post bail earlier for the initial libel case, and subsequently for the 11 estafa cases. There was a bit of a twist as the case was transferred back and forth between courts, but ultimately, the RTC [Regional Trial Court] decided to grant bail for all of these cases."
When questioned about the total bail amount, Atty. Torreon revealed, "The total bail amount was 260,000 pesos, plus an additional 10,000 pesos for a grand total of 270,000 pesos. The 10,000 pesos was for the libel case."
Regarding the status of the other non-bailable cases, Atty. Torreon explained, "The most serious non-bailable cases have been dismissed. As for the estafa cases, we decided to post bail instead of pursuing dismissal. Pursuing dismissal through legal proceedings would have taken considerable time. We believed it was best to ensure Mr. Jay Sonza's release on bail, especially considering his health condition."
In response to the outpouring of support from Sonza's followers and those who believe he was wrongly accused, Atty. Torreon conveyed his gratitude. "To those who stand by Jay Sonza, thank you for your unwavering support and prayers. He is now out of custody. Perhaps even his critics couldn't have anticipated that we would find a way for his quick release. As for those who hold a negative view of him, we only ask that you take the time to understand the full story before passing judgment. You never know, a few days from now, you might find yourself facing similar circumstances. It's not right to be judged hastily."
According to Atty. Israelito Torreon, the legal representative for Sonza, "He arrived back home around 8 PM last night. (August 22,2023) I missed him because I had just come from the Department of Justice. We had an appointment with the DOJ Secretary, which took longer than expected. When I checked, I found out he had already been released. He was able to post bail earlier for the initial libel case, and subsequently for the 11 estafa cases. There was a bit of a twist as the case was transferred back and forth between courts, but ultimately, the RTC [Regional Trial Court] decided to grant bail for all of these cases."
When questioned about the total bail amount, Atty. Torreon revealed, "The total bail amount was 260,000 pesos, plus an additional 10,000 pesos for a grand total of 270,000 pesos. The 10,000 pesos was for the libel case."
Regarding the status of the other non-bailable cases, Atty. Torreon explained, "The most serious non-bailable cases have been dismissed. As for the estafa cases, we decided to post bail instead of pursuing dismissal. Pursuing dismissal through legal proceedings would have taken considerable time. We believed it was best to ensure Mr. Jay Sonza's release on bail, especially considering his health condition."
In response to the outpouring of support from Sonza's followers and those who believe he was wrongly accused, Atty. Torreon conveyed his gratitude. "To those who stand by Jay Sonza, thank you for your unwavering support and prayers. He is now out of custody. Perhaps even his critics couldn't have anticipated that we would find a way for his quick release. As for those who hold a negative view of him, we only ask that you take the time to understand the full story before passing judgment. You never know, a few days from now, you might find yourself facing similar circumstances. It's not right to be judged hastily."
Aug 23, 2023
