The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has started examining the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footages of the beach resort in La Union where Filipina painter Breanna “Bree” Jonson was found unconscious and died last Sept. 18.
Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Adrian Ferdinand S. Sugay said: “We are informed that RTC (regional trial court)-La Union Branch 26 issued an order for the NBI to examine the digital video recorders and CCTV footages of the resort.”
“We are awaiting said digital examination,” said Sugay who supervises the NBI for the DOJ.
Last December, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra admitted that “the NBI investigation has been stalled because our NBI agents have a pending application for search warrant to secure forensic evidence (the judge is on extended leave).”
Also, Guevarra said the NBI was “waiting for the PNP (Philippine National Police) response to their requests for clarification on the PNP’s DNA report.”
Jonson was found “motionless” inside a room of the Flotsam and Jetsam beach resort in San Juan, La Union at around 4:50 am or 4:55 a.m. on Sept. 18, 2021.
She was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Julian Roberto S. Ongpin, the son of billionaire businessman and former trade and industry minister, has become a person of interest in the case since he was staying with her at that time.
Julian had also been charged with illegal possession of dangerous drugs before the RTC in La Union after 12.6 grams of cocaine were found inside his room.
But RTC Judge Romeo E. Agacita Jr. last Dec. 3 issued an order that dismissed the charges.
Government prosecutors have filed a motion to reconsider the dismissal.