Sonza free after posting bail

MANILA, Philippines — Former broadcaster Jay Sonza was released from detention on Tuesday night after posting bail for estafa and libel charges.

Chief Inspector Jayrex Bustinera, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) spokesman, said that Sonza was released from the Quezon City Jail before 9 p.m.

The jail received all the release orders from the respective courts needed for Sonza’s temporary liberty, Bustinera said.

“The BJMP also conducted verification of other cases, no pending cases found,” Bustinera said in a message.

Sonza is facing 11 counts of estafa before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court 100 and a libel case before the Quezon City RTC Branch 77.

The cases of syndicated and large-scale illegal recruitment before the Quezon City RTC Branch 100 and illegal recruitment before Quezon City RTC Branch 215 were provisionally dismissed.

Sonza was arrested as he was leaving for Hong Kong at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on July 18, according to the National Bureau of Investigation.