Jose Yumang Sonza (born September 20,1955),more commonly known as Jay Sonza,is a Filipino blogger and a former newscaster and talk show host.[1][2] He was the former station manager of the terrestrial television station UNTV from 2005 to 2009.[3] He attempted to run for vice president in 2010,but lost to Jejomar Binay.
Sonza was born on September 20,1955,in Macabebe,Pampanga,[2] to Dalmacio Isip Sonza Noel Velasquez Sonza of CLTV36 and Segundina Viray Yumang.[1] During his childhood,his family migrated to Bansalan,Davao del Sur,near Mount Apo. He was able to work to finance his studies.[2] During that time,he worked as a bartender in resto-bars in Davao City.[4]
He worked at ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation (now ABS-CBN Corporation) from 1987 to 1995.[5][10] He became a part-time news writer.[6] Following his transfer,he was among the people behind the network's newscastTV Patrol.[8] He then worked at GMA Network until 2004,wherein he became a supervising producer and consultant.[5][10] He was the director of GMA Bisig Bayan Foundation.[11]
Since 2005,he became station manager of UNTV-37. He took his hosting duties in these networks.[5][10] Aside from these,he also became part of RPN-9 in 2000 where his program,Tapatan,was moved from GMA-7;[11] he once worked as news anchor at ABC-5 in 2001[5] but later resigned due to pressure at his own consultancy firm.[7]
He also became part of radio station DZRH in 2000.[11][16]
At a time,Sonza,also a farmer,[13] had three business enterprises. Being into agribusiness,his family had a fruit and animal farm in Bansalan in the 1990s.[4] He was also managing his own restaurant,Retro Bar and Restaurant,in Quezon City.[4][11] He put up his own production company named after his Tapatan television program.[4]
Legal issues
Complaint against ABS-CBN
On April 30,1996,Sonza filed a complaint against ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation before the Department of Labor and Employment,due to allegations of unpaid salaries and fees. Sonza,being the president and general manager of Mel and Jay Management and Development Corporation,had resigned from the network about a month earlier. On July 8,1997,the Labor Arbiter dismissed the complaint for lack of jurisdiction,which was later affirmed by the National Labor Relations Commission,the Court of Appeals (CA),and eventually,the Supreme Court,[26] which cited that Sonza,as broadcast and entertainment talent,is an independent contractor (the same argument referred to Mel Tiangco by the court which also dismissed her own case against the network).[27][28]
Complaint by ABS-CBN vs. Sonza et al
A civil case was filed by ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation against Sonza and Tiangco (who was also charged with violating the network's policy against endorsing products) for their breach of talent agreement with the network. Another was filed in 1996 against GMA-7 for reportedly interfering with the agreement. The contract,stating that the two were exclusive talent of ABS-CBN until 1997,was breached however as they agreed with GMA-7 to produce Partners Mel and Jay a year prior.[29]
The cases were dismissed by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) in 1998;the ruling was affirmed by the CA on August 6,2003.[29]
Complaint filed by Julia Barretto
On September 25,2020,actress Julia Barretto filed a complaint against Sonza before the National Bureau of Investigation's (NBI) Cybercrime Division in connection with his social media post claiming that she was pregnant.[25][30]
His arrest was confirmed on August 15 by both BI,[24] NBI,[31] and BJMP.[32][24] It was later confirmed that Quezon City RTC Branches 215 and 100 dismissed the illegal recruitment cases;the latter "provisionally" dismissed the case citing the complainants' failure to appear before the court.[33]
On August 18,Sonza pleaded not guilty before the RTC Branch 77 for a separate,2007 libel case;charges of estafa before the Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 135 are also pending.[34] He was released from detention on August 22 after posting bail of ₱270,000 for both cases.[35]
Personal life
Sonza was formerly married to a woman with whom he has five children.[1][5] His marriage was annulled[1] in 1999.[11]
Sonza admitted in a 2010 pre-election interview being a heavy smoker while he was active in media career.[1]
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