People may now have heard the name Julian Ongpin from the news after becoming a person of interest in the death of artist-painter Bree Jonson.
While some, especially in the art community, know him as the founder of Julian Ongpin Young Artists Gallery (JOYA) in Makati, a lot are still curious about him. So, who is Julian Ongpin?
Julian is the son of billionaire Roberto "Bobby" Ongpin, who is the chairman and chief executive officer of Alphaland Corporation that built the Balesin Island Club, Alphaland Makati Place and The City Club, among other big projects.
His father was also the minister of trade and industry during former President Marcos' administration, who then focused on various businesses following the late chief executive's ouster.
Police in its report said Julian was Jonson's boyfriend, although Jonson's mother, Sally, had not known it until the incident.
"Wala akong alam na may boyfriend si Trixie (I had no idea that she had a boyfriend). But this time when friend who contacted me said she's with Julian, and I said 'Who is that?' and then she said, 'Trixie's boyfriend... Bree's boyfriend, ,'" Sally said in an ANC interview Tuesday, Sep. 21.
Julian, who described himself as a graffiti artist, grew up in Sydney, Australia. His family lineage was also into arts--either as enthusiasts or with connections with artists.
In 2015, he opened JOYA Gallery at the Alphaland Makati Place with the presence of famous artists and art enthusiasts in the country. He hoped that the works exhibited in the gallery might be able to "share something great with the world."
Julian is also the president of Ongpin Angel Investment Corporation and is the assistant to the chairman at Alphaland Corporation, according to a private LinkedIn account supposedly belonging to him.
Arrest and Release
Julian, 29, was arrested Saturday, Sep. 18, after a 12.6-gram cocaine was allegedly found in the hostel room in San Juan, La Union where he and Jonson, 30, were staying. It was also the same day that Jonson was found lifeless.
But he was released as the La Union Provincial Prosecutor's Office decided to give the police more time to prove their case since the capture of Julian was not covered on any incident that would justify warrantless arrest.
In Julian's mugshot circulating online, he had scratch marks on his left arm, which for Sally were a sign that he engaged in a recent fight.
"Talagang nakakatakot, nakakapanindig balahibo. Yung arm ni Julian, may mga deep scratches... talagang nanglaban 'yung anak ko. Sinong gagawa no'n sa kanya? (It's really scary. It gave me chills. Julian's arm had deep scratches, which showed that my daughter fought him. Who would do it to him?) It's a fresh deep scratch," Sally claimed in the same ANC interview, adding that her daughter had "two marks" in her neck and another "red mark" in her throat.
But police said the Scene of the Crime Operation team inspected the markings on Ongpin's body and found that these wounds were not caused by a struggle but by concrete nails in the comfort room's window as Julian claimed he tried to go inside the CR through its window, wherein Jonson supposedly locked herself in.
Julian is now already under immigration lookout by the Bureau of Immigration. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said depending on the progress of the preliminary investigation against Julian, the prosecutors may petition the court for a precautionary hold departure order against him, which would stop him from leaving the country.