By Clarist Zablan
(October 18, 2021) – The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday indicted for possession of cocaine the son of a business tycoon and former trade minister, who was investigated for the death of a famous painter in northern Luzon.
Julian Roberto Ongpin was charged with violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 before the regional trial court in San Fernando City, La Union after police found packers of cocaine at a hotel room in La Union where his partner Bree Jonson was found dead last month.
“The panel of prosecutors assigned to conduct the preliminary investigation of the complaint… issued Resolution dated 18 October 2021 and resolved to indict respondent Julian Roberto Ongpin y Stone for Possession of Dangerous Drugs,” DOJ said in a case briefer. The charges were non-bailable.
A precautionary hold departure order was issued against Ongpin by the executive judge of the regional court on October 8, after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) issued a subpoena on him to give a statement on the death of his girlfriend Jonson.
Ongpin, the son of billionaire Roberto Ongpin, was briefly jailed last month after the police seized 12.6 grams of cocaine from a hostel room where Jonson was found unconscious. She was declared dead upon arriving at the hospital.
According to police reports, Jonson died of asphyxia. Ongpin alleged that she died of suicide, but Jonson’s mother Sally Jonson disputed the claim.
Although he should have been kept detained under law while investigations on Jonson’s death were ongoing, the provincial prosecutor ordered his release last month, sparking outrage over the preferential treatment towards wealthy drug suspects.
National Police chief Guillermo Eleazar promised to carry out a fair investigation on the incident, dismissing allegations of bias because of Ongpin’s wealth.
“Hindi kaaway ang inyong PNP sa kasong ito at sa halip ay kakampi sa paghahanap ng katotohanan. We decided to open this case to the public purposely to prevent unfair allegations and speculations due to the personalities involved and being turned into a false rich versus poor narrative,” Eleazar said.
(MM)
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