Court dismisses illegal recruitment cases vs. Jay Sonza By JOVILAND RITA, GMA Integrated News

The Quezon City Regional Trial Court has dismissed two cases filed against veteran broadcaster Jay Sonza, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said on Thursday. BJMP spokesperson Jail Chief Inspector Jayrex Joseph Bustinera told GMA News Online that QC RTC Branch 100 has "provisionally" dismissed the syndicated and large-scale illegal recruitment case filed against Sonza due to the complainant's failure to attend the hearings. Similarly, QC RTC Branch 215 has "provisionally" dismissed the illegal recruitment case against the veteran broadcaster. According to the order, Assistant City Prosecutor Joseph Seares said the private complainants in the case failed to coordinate with him despite his serious efforts to reach out. "Given the consent of the accused who is virtually present… and in view of the manifestation of the public prosecutor indicating lack of interest to prosecute this case, on the part of the private complainants, the motion of the defense is hereby granted," the order read. Bustinera said provisionally dismissed means that the case may be revived within two years if there is new evidence or reason to reopen it. However, Sonza will have to remain in detention due to cases still pending before the court: 11 counts of estafa in QC RTC Branch 100 and a libel case in QC RTC Branch 77. "Still in custody," Bustinera said when asked if Sonza is already released following the dismissal of his illegal recruitment cases. Meanwhile, the RTC Branch 77 set the arraignment and pre-trial hearing on Sonza’s libel case on August 18, 2023. The bail amount for his libel case is at P10,000. “Yung libel has bail of P10,000. 'Yung estafa, we are checking pa (The libel case has a P10,000 bail. We are still checking regarding estafa),” the BJMP official said. Sonza is currently detained at the Quezon City Jail - Ligtas COVID Center Quarantine Facility in Payatas, Quezon City. A report by Allan Gatus on Super Radyo dzBB said arraignment for Sonza's libel case is set on Friday via videoconferencing. According to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Sonza was about to leave the country for Hong Kong on July 18 when he was stopped by Bureau of Immigration personnel at the airport. He was then turned over to the NBI Airport Investigation Division for the serving of the arrest warrant, and then to the BJMP. Bustinera earlier said Sonza was received by the BJMP on August 3, 2023 through a commitment order from QC RTC Branch 100.— with Joahna Lei Casilao/KBK/RSJ, GMA Integrated News

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