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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOJ continues with probe on 'possession of illegal drugs' vs Ongpin

DOJ continues with probe on 'possession of illegal drugs' vs Ongpin

Published Sep 30, 2021 08:15 pm

Department of Justice

Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors will conduct starting at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 1, the continuation of the preliminary investigation of Julian Roberto S. Ongpin on charges of illegal possession of 12.6 grams of cocaine, a dangerous drug.

Julian, son of former trade and industry minister Roberto V. Ongpin, is also a person of interest in the Sept. 18 death of visual artist Breana “Bree” Jonson in San Juan, La Union.

Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said that Julian has been subpoenaed last Sept. 28 to appear before a panel of prosecutors and has been ordered to submit his counter-affidavit and other controverting evidence.

Assistant State Prosecutor Honey Rose E. Delgado, spokesperson of the DOJ’s Office of the Prosecutor General (OPG), said a panel of DOJ prosecutors has been picked by Prosecutor General Benedicto A. Malcontento to conduct the preliminary investigation of the complaint filed by the police.

However, she declined to name the members of the panel “for security reasons” under the OPG’s policy.

Julian has been charged with illegal possession of dangerous drugs under Section 11, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Section 11, Article II of RA 9165 imposes a penalty of life imprisonment and a fine ranging from P500,000 to P10 million for possession of 10 grams or more of dangerous drugs such as cocaine.

Breana and Julian were together in a hostel room in La Union where the artist was found unconscious and later pronounced dead in a hospital where she was taken.

In the hostel room, the police recovered 12.6 grams of cocaine, a prohibited drug. It was the basis for the police to file illegal possession of prohibited drugs against Julian.

Both Julian and Breana tested positive for use of cocaine.

The La Union Office of Provincial Prosecutor (OPP), however, ordered the release Julian from police custody for further investigation and filing of his counter-affidavit.

Guevarra had issued last Sept. 24 Department Order No. 229 which directed the transfer of the preliminary investigation of the charges from the La Union OPP to the DOJ’s Office of the Secretary of the Prosecution Staff (OSJPS).

The transfer was requested by the regional office of the NPS.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque had said that President Duterte “has instructed the criminal justice system of the country to accord the victim (Jonson) justice.”

Guevarra had said: “I have already issued an ILBO (immigration lookout bulletin order) on Julian Ongpin to the Bureau of Immigration.”

He pointed out the issuance of an ILBO after the Philippine National Police (PNP) admitted that it does not know the whereabouts of Julian.

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