Best for Ongpin to submit self to court’s jurisdiction — Guevarra
JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that it would be best for Julian Ongpin who was recently indicted for cocaine possession to submit himself to the jurisdiction of courts.
“It is best for the accused to submit himself to the jurisdiction of the court so that he will have all the time and opportunity to defend himself in a fair and impartial trial,” Guevarra said.
Ongpin, son of tycoon Roberto Ongpin, was indicted for illegal drugs before the San Fernando, La Union Regional Trial Court.
He was indicted for possession of dangerous drugs (cocaine) under Section 11 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The information against Ongpin stated that the offense was non-bailable.
Also, Guevarra explained that the presiding judge will examine the existence of a probable cause before deciding to issue a warrant of arrest or not.
“The judge to whom the case will be raffled will first determine the existence of probable cause based on the records submitted to the court by the DOJ panel of state prosecutors. If the judge finds probable cause, he or she will issue a warrant of arrest, ” Guevarra said.
Police arrested Ongpin, 29, last September 18 in San Juan, La Union, after 12.6 grams of cocaine were found in the hostel room he and now-deceased visual artist Bree Jonson were occupying.
Ongpin was Jonson’s boyfriend and was the last companion when she was found unconscious in Flotsam & Jetsam Resort. She was brought to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival before dawn on September 18.
The Ongpin scion claimed that Jonson committed suicide.
