IN WHAT LOOKS more like a sustained purge against peddlers of disinformation, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested retired broadcast journalist Jay Sonza over alleged dissemination of false medical information pertaining to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
He was arrested in a joint operation on Project 8, Quezon City by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by the Pasay City Regional Trial Court.
Sonza is facing 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.
According to the NBI, the warrant “indicates that the offense is not bailable.”
The arrest was carried out by operatives of the NBI Organized Crime Division (NBI-OCD) in coordination with the NBI Cybercrime Division (NBI-CCD) and NBI Technical Intelligence Division (NBI-TID).
The NBI previously hinted at a case buildup and cyber-surveillance operations conducted by the NBI-Cybercrime Division which found Sonza as among those who allegedly circulated “unverified and misleading medical information involving the President.”
The post has since been deleted. Interestingly, the NBI was able to preserve the evidence through digital forensic methods, including authenticated screenshots and tracking of reposted content.
“These materials formed part of the evidence submitted before the Department of Justice (DOJ), which led to the filing of charges and the eventual issuance of the warrant,” the NBI said in a statement.
Upon his arrest, Sonza said he is ready to go through due process.
“I was ready to post my bail kanina, kaya lang wala pang warrant kanina eh, so I am surprised they have a warrant tonight,” Sonza was quoted as saying in an interview with the television network where he used to work.
“And it was supposed to be a bailable, nakalagay dito non-bailable. You know the process,” Sonza said, adding: “We go through the process naman eh.”
