Julian Roberto S. Ongpin, a person of interest in the Sept. 18 death of artist Breanna “Bree” Jonson in San Juan, La Union, is set to appear before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday, Oct. 6, to give his statements on the incident.
Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said that the NBI has subpoenaed Ongpin who earlier appeared before Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors and submitted his counter-affidavit on charge of illegal possession of dangerous drugs filed against him by the police.
The NBI had earlier been directed by Guevarra to investigate Jonson’s death.
Guevarra said “the NBI has conducted its separate autopsy on the remains of the deceased, and is currently doing forensic and histopathological examinations to ensure that all bases are covered before releasing its findings,”
Ongpin was detained by the police last Sept 18 after 12.6 grams of cocaine were reportedly recovered on his bed inside the room in a hostel in San Juan town where he and Jonson checked in a day before.
The La Union Provincial Prosecutor’s Office (PPO) conducted initial investigation but ordered Ongpin’s release from police custody pending filing of counter-affidavit.
This prompted Guevarra, on request of the regional office of the National Prosecution Service (NPS), to transfer the venue of the preliminary investigation of Ongpin’s charge of illegal possession of dangerous drugs to the DOJ’s main office in Manila.
Jonson was found “motionless” at the hotel at around 4:50 a.m. last Sept. 18. She was declared dead in a hospital.
Guevarra said the NBI had taken the testimonies of persons Jonson talked to or were with her before she died.