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PNP working with NBI in probe of Jonson’s death

September 25, 2021 Alfred P. Dalizon 494 views

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar on Saturday said they are fully working with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in finding the truth behind the death of artist Breana “Bree” Jonson inside a La Union resort last week.

The top cop said that since the start of the investigation, police investigators under the supervision of Police Regional Office 1 director Brigadier Gen. Emmanuel B. Peralta have already been sharing information with NBI agents.

“Ilang araw nang nagtutulungan ang inyong PNP at NBI sa pag-iimbestiga ng kasong ito kaya kampante kami na walang banggaan ng resulta na magaganap sa paghahanap ng katotohanan sa pangyayaring ito,” said Eleazar.

Secretary of Justice Menardo Guevarra earlier directed the NBI to also look into the case of Jonson amid a request from the Jonson family. The NBI conducted a second autopsy on the remains of the late artist who earlier tested positive for cocaine at the PNP Crime Laboratory.

“We respect and fully understand the decision of the family of Bree Jonson to exhaust all the means to find out the truth on this unfortunate incident,” said the PNP chief.

“Nakikiisa kami sa layuning ito kaya nga tiniyak namin na transparent ang aming imbestigasyon upang ipakita sa taumbayan na wala kaming itinatago at wala kaming kinikilingan sa kasong ito,” he added.

Eleazar earlier directed Peralta to be transparent in the conduct of the investigation amid allegations of possible cover-up since the case involves Julian Ongpin, son of a billionaire and former trade minister Bobby Ongpin.

Based on the initial results of the investigation, both Ongpin and Jonson tested positive for cocaine.

Police seized 12.6 grams of cocaine inside the room occupied by the couple and this served as the basis for filing of a case for illegal possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, against Ongpin.

However, the La Union Provincial Prosecutor’s Office ordered the release of Ongpin for further investigation, a move questioned by many since possession of 10 grams or more of cocaine is supposed to be a non-bailable offense.

The La Union prosecutor’s office is headed by former NBI director Nonnatus Caesar R. Rojas although the resolution which freed Ongpin was penned by his deputy, Deputy Prosecutor Braulio L. Tade.

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