At least two Quezon City Regional Trial Courts (RTC) on Thursday respectively ordered the dismissal of the charges filed against former broadcaster Jay Sonza.
In an order dated August 17, QC RTC Branch 100 stated that Sonza's estafa and syndicated and large-scale illegal recruitment cases were dismissed due to his failure to appear before the court.
"Upon motion of accused, without objection on the part of the people, considering that with non-appearance of private complainants, the guilt of the accused could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt, the instant case is hereby DISMISSED PROVISONALLY with the express constent and conformity of accused," it said.
In a separate order, QC RTC Branch 215 presiding judge Rafael Hipolito stated it approved the provisional dismissal of Sonza's illegal recruitment case after private complainants failed to coordinate with him as early as July 28.
"[I]n view of the manifestation of the public prosecutor indicating lack of interest to prosecute this case, on the part of the private complainant, the motion of the defense is hereby granted," the order reads.
Both courts ordered the jail warden to release of the former broadcaster from detention.
However, Sonza cannot be released yet from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facility due to his pending libel case.
On Tuesday, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) confirmed that the former broadcaster has been arrested and detained due to a pending estafa filed against him.
Based on reports, he was arrested while he was on his way to board a flight going to Hongkong at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last week.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) eventually detained Sonza after learning that there is an active warrant of arrest for him due to syndicated and large-scale illegal recruitment.
