Court sets review of Ongpin acquittal

MANILA, Philippines — A La Union trial court has set a hearing on the motion for reconsideration filed by government prosecutors on its decision to dismiss the drug case filed against Julian Ongpin, a person of interest in the death of visual artist Breanna “Bree” Jonson last September.

Department of Justice (DOJ) Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento said yesterday they filed their motion for reconsideration on Thursday, whereupon Regional Trial Court Branch 27 Judge Romeo Agacita Jr. set the hearing on Dec. 3.

“If allowed by the court, the panel will present evidence in support of the MR,” Malcontento said when asked why the court set a hearing for the government prosecutors’ motion for reconsideration.

Agacita dismissed the charge of possession of illegal drugs filed against Ongpin for lack of probable cause to issue a warrant of arrest against him, explaining that police failed to comply with the requirements of Section 12 of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 to support its claim against Ongpin.

The judge also ordered the lifting of the precautionary hold departure order against Ongpin.

Bureau of Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval told The STAR that Ongpin is no longer included in the list of persons under hold departure order, but added that he is still under BI surveillance and his name is still included in the list of persons under immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO).

“Yes, it’s still in place (because) we have not received a lifting of the ILBO against him,” Sandoval said.

DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra also emphasized that the ILBO against Ongpin has yet to be lifted pending the results of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)’s probe of the death of Jonson, who was found dead in a hostel room in La Union she shared with Ongpin.

Ongpin is a son of business magnate and former trade minister Roberto Ongpin.

The BI and NBI are attached agencies of the DOJ.