Former newscaster Jay Sonza has been released from the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), said his lawyer, Atty. Mark Tolentino on late Monday afternoon, hours after Sonza was due for release.

“Matapos ang ilang oras na paghihintay at pagkaantala sa kabila ng malinaw na utos ng hukuman, ipapalabas na rin si Jay Sonza mula sa kustodiya,” Tolentino said in a social media update.

In his Facebook post, he said he was on his way to the NBI detention center to ensure that the release is properly and immediately carried out.

“Hindi dapat inaabot ng ganitong katagal ang pagpapatupad ng isang Order of Release. Ang utos ng hukuman ay malinaw: agad, hindi bukas, hindi maya-maya—kundi ngayon,” the lawyer said.

As of writing, Tolentino has yet to issue an update about Sonza’s release.

Earlier, Tolentino said that they had been waiting for hours at the detention center for operatives to execute court orders.

“Ito ay nangyayari sa kabila ng hayagang pahayag ni Melvin Matibag, NBI Director, na si Jay Sonza ay dapat nang palayain immediately and without delay,” he wrote in an earlier post.

The lawyer said that operatives were still awaiting additional instructions from the NBI Head Office before releasing his client, despite the court’s “clear” Order of Release.