NBI arrests Jay Sonza in QC for alleged spread of Marcos' fake medical info

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested former TV host Jay Sonza on Thursday night at a house in Project 8, Quezon City over his alleged spread of fake medical information of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the NBI said the Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 118 issued an arrest warrant against Sonza in connection with criminal charges arising from his alleged dissemination of false medical information pertaining to Marcos.

Sonza is charged with unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act 10951, in relation to Section 6 of RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

The NBI said 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).

Earlier case buildup and cyber-surveillance operations conducted by the NBI-CCD in January 2026 identified Sonza as among those who allegedly circulated “unverified and misleading medical information involving the President.”

Although the original posts were deleted or restricted, the NBI said it preserved 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. 

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 (I was ready to post my bail earlier, but there was no warrant yet), so I am surprised they have a warrant tonight,” he told GMA News.

“And it was supposed to be a bailable, nakalagay dito (it says here), non-bailable. You know the process,” Sonza said, adding: “We go through the process naman eh.”

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Sonza’s counsel Atty. Mark Tolentino said they are now en route to the NBI in Pasay City to ensure that Sonza’s rights will be respected, especially that he is a senior citizen.

“Hindi namin palalagpasin ang anumang paglabag. Babantayan namin ang bawat hakbang. Aaksyon kami kung kinakailangan,” Tolentino said, adding that he will post updates as soon as able.

(We will not allow any abuse. We will keep a close eye on each step, and we will act if needed.) 

In a later interview at the NBI office in Pasay City, Tolentino said he will question the arrest of his client in relation to the charge of unlawful publication before the court.

“We will file a proper manifestation sa court na (before the court) to issue an order informing or requiring the NBI to release immediately our client. On the ground na wala lang (there is no) legal basis to detain,” Tolentino told reporters.

“Kung anong nakalagay sa court, anong nakalagay ng order, mali man o hindi mali, trabaho nila kung anong nakalagay doon. Trabaho ko naman is to question the legality and the constitutionality ng order ng court,” he added.

(Whatever is indicate in the court order, wrong or not, it is the NBI’s job to carry out. My job is to question the legality and the constitutionality of the order of the court.) — JMA/VBL, GMA News