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Cristina Chi - Philstar.com
May 1, 2026 | 9:31am
Screengrabs of the video posted by the National Bureau of Investigation showing the arrest of Jay Sonza, April 30, 2026.
Clip from National Bureau of Investigation
MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation arrested former broadcaster Jay Sonza on Thursday night, April 30, at his home in Quezon City for allegedly spreading fabricated medical information about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The NBI said operatives from its Organized Crime Division, Cybercrime Division, and Technical Intelligence Division carried out the arrest based on a warrant issued that day by the Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 118.
Sonza faces charges of unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
The court classified the offense as not bailable, a designation Sonza's camp immediately contested. His lawyer, Mark Tolentino, argued that the charge is not punishable by life imprisonment or reclusion perpetua and is therefore bailable as a matter of right under the Constitution.
Sonza himself said he had been ready to post bail earlier that day but no warrant had yet been issued, and expressed surprise at the non-bail classification. He is expected to be presented before the issuing court on Monday, May 4.
The case stems from cyber-surveillance operations the NBI conducted in January 2026, which identified Sonza as among those who circulated unverified and misleading medical information about the president.
The posts included a purported CT scan report and statements alleging a deterioration in Marcos' health, which circulated on social media.
St. Luke's Medical Center debunked the document on January 28, calling it fake and fabricated, and the Presidential Communications Office said the results did not reflect the president's actual health.
"Despite the deletion or restriction of original posts, the NBI preserved the evidence through digital forensic methods, including authenticated screenshots and tracking of reposted content," the NBI said in its statement last night.
These preserved social media content "formed part of the evidence submitted before the Department of Justice, which led to the filing of charges and the eventual issuance of the warrant," the NBI said.
Sonza was also arrested in 2023 due to Syndicated Estafa and large-scale illegal recruitment.
