DAVAO CITY – The mother of the late visual artist Bree Jonson remains hopeful that justice will be served to her 30-year old daughter even as they are going against one of the most influential families in the country.
Sally also appealed to the authorities to dig further on the alleged drug use of her daughter’s boyfriend Julian Ongpin since the police had recovered 12 grams of cocaine inside the room where they were staying.
“Ang drug case ni Ongpin ay hindi lang ito laban namin, kundi laban din ito ni Duterte sa illegal na droga at laban din ito ng buong Pilipinas. Pero bakit wala pong nangyari doon? ” she told Manila Bulletin in an interview at the wake of her daughter. “Of course, may takot din pero I know that the truth will come out.”
Local police detained Ongpin for drug possession but the provincial prosecutor ordered his release pending further investigation.
Bree, whose real name is Breanna Patricia Jonson Agunod, was found dead inside a hostel in La Union on September 18.
Police claimed that it was Ongpin who found Bree hanging inside the bathroom.
But her mother doubts the police’s report prompting her to sought help from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Sally Jonson admitted that they are frustrated as to how police are handling the case.
“They keep on frustrating us. So we’ve entrusted everything to the NBI. And I also asked for protection from government because eventually we will be presenting witness. I cannot disclose further details because there’s an ongoing investigation,” said Jonson.
The elder Jonson also appealed to Philippine National Police chief General Guillermo Eleazar to “do his job for the Filipino people” before stepping down this coming November.
She further bared that the Ongpin family has never reached out to them since the death of Bree.
“I have actually asked Julian to come to Bree’s wake in Manila and even here in Davao. But they have not responded,” the mother disclosed.
Bree will be laid to rest at Davao Memorial Park on September 29.
Sally appealed to Ongpin family to surrender Julian to the authorities, saying that “It’s not yet too late to redeem themselves.”
Moreover, Sally disclosed that the last time Bree communicated with her was first week of September.
She also bared that the last time she was with her daughter was in 2018. Sally was supposed to come home on 2019 but was moved supposedly later this year.
“I am supposed to come home later this year but because of this, I had to come home right away,”Jonson added.
Sally added that her daughter was supposed to come with her to Canada about six years ago.
“But she wanted to stay and continue to do what she loves to do as an artist. I did not force her because I know she’s happy with what she is doing here,” she concluded.