Jay Sonza camp seeks lifting of arrest warrant over 'errors'

The camp of former journalist Jay Sonza is seeking to lift the warrant for his arrest, citing alleged errors in the document.

According to a "24 Oras Weekend" report on Saturday, Sonza’s lawyer, Atty. Mark Tolentino, said the warrant issued by the Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 118 cited “Article 154 as amended by Republic Act No. 10591,” referring to Unlawful Use of Means of Publication and Unlawful Utterances.

Tolentino pointed out, however, that Republic Act No. 10591 is actually the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

He also noted that the warrant described the offense as non-bailable, but research by GMA News indicated that the charges are, in fact, bailable.

“Dapat ang court ang mag-explain nito bakit nangyari ito. Nagkamali ang court. Tapos pinirmahan ng judge. Because of that, nade-deprive yung liberty ng aking kliyente," Tolentino said.

(The court has to explain why this happened. The court made a mistake, and the judge signed it. Because of that, my client’s liberty was deprived.)

"Sa information na finile ng DOJ papunta sa court, ang nakalagay doon ‘bail not required’,” he added.

(In the information filed by the DOJ before the court, it was stated ‘bail not required.’)

Tolentino also questioned the court’s handling of the case, citing what he described as glaring inconsistencies in the warrant.

“Hindi nila chine-check yung ‘non-bailable.’ Mali na ‘yun. Pangalawa, yung batas na cinite sa warrant of arrest, mali rin. Kasi anong relationship ng possession of firearms sa unlawful publication?” he added.

(They did not check whether it was ‘non-bailable.’ That is already wrong. Secondly, the law cited in the warrant of arrest is also incorrect. What is the relationship between possession of firearms and unlawful publication?)

GMA News has sought comment from the Pasay RTC but has yet to receive a response.—Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/MCG, GMA News