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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Brosas laments 'special treatment' of person of interest in Bree Jonson death

Brosas laments 'special treatment' of person of interest in Bree Jonson death

Published Sep 28, 2021 03:04 pm

Gabriela Women's Party Representative Arlene Brosas slammed on Tuesday, September 28, what she claimed as a "special treatment" in the drug case against Julian Ongpin, the person of interest in the death of artist Bree Jonson.

Mugshot of Julian Ongpin (Philippine National Police photo)

Brosas raised the issue during the House of Representatives' plenary deliberations on the proposed 2022 budget of the Department of Justice (DOJ), which recently took over the preliminary investigation of the Davao artist's death in La Union.

Ongpin, son of billionaire and former trade secretary Roberto Ongpin, was earlier arrested by La Union police after finding 12.6 grams of cocaine in his and Jonson's room.

Despite testing positive for cocaine use, he was later released by the provincial prosecutor's office pending investigation.

Brosas cited the Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and said that persons who were charged of possessing more than 10 grams of cocaine are not allowed to avail of plea bargaining.

"Parang tila may special treatment kay Julian Ongpin. Bakit parang 'pag malaking tao, nasa posisyon, anak ng isang politiko, 'pag nakuhanan ng ilegal na droga, madali lang natin pakawalan, palayain (It appears that we are giving Julian Ongpin some special treatment. Why is its that when a powerful person, someone in position, or a child of a politician, get caught possessing illegal drugs, we are quick to release and free them)?"

"Samantalang 'pag mahirap ang nahuhulian ng droga, baril agad ang katapan nito, ta's tokhang agad (While when poor people get caught with drugs, they are immediately shot, in the guise of tokhang)?" the progressive lawmaker lamented, alluding to the Duterte administration's controversial war on drugs.

But Davao de Oro representative Ruwel Gonzaga, who sponsors the DOJ budget, explained that Ongpin was freed to follow legal procedures.

"Binitawan siya...because sabi po ng prosecution, hindi siya covered sa warrantless arrest...Hindi siya pwedeng i-detain because hindi siya pwede i-hulog sa warrantless arrest," Gonzaga, speaking for DOJ, said, noting that the cocaine was not found in Ongpin's possession.

"Regular filing ang proseso kay Julian Ongpin (The prosecution released him because he is not covered by warrantless arrest. He cannot be detained because he did not qualify. He will undergo the regular filing of charges)," he added.

"Yon po ang proseso (That is the process) not because he's the son of a billionaire, because this is really the process under the law," he pointed out.

"Otherwise, those executing the law, or the enforcers, will be charged of a crime," he added.

Still, Brosas was convinced that Ongpin was favored due to his father's influence.

"Kapag ordinaryong mamamayang lang, napakabilis at napakadali nating umaksyon...Tapos ito, may posisyon, son of a billionaire, hindi mo maiisip na 'Uy, may due process dito, kailangan ganito' (But if this involves ordinary citizens, we are quick to act, but with this case, a son of billionaire, and now we are thinking that we should follow due process)," Brosas said.

The women's representative also called for a through investigation on Jonson's death.

On September 18, Jonson was found unconscious in her and Ongpin's room in a resort in La Union. Ongpin claimed that his companion committed suicide.

The police, meanwhile, have charged Ongpin with violation of the RA 9165.

The DOJ's preliminary investigation is ongoing, Gonzaga said.

Related Tags

DOJ Gabriela Julian ongpin bree jonson Arlene Brosas illegal drugs La Union War on drugs
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