By Nancy Carvajal
The family of the late artist Bree Jonson has expressed dismay over the National Bureau of Investigation’s snail-paced probe into her death despite the wealth of physical and video evidence submitted to investigators.
Abogado Ma. Moreni Salandanan, who’s representing the Jonsons in the case, said the victim’s family cannot understand why the NBI is dragging its feet in the investigation.
“All physical evidence and relevant video footage have been submitted to the NBI. We fear that the evidence would soon be gone or rendered useless because there’s barely any progress in the investigation,” she said.
Jonson, the girlfriend of Julian Ongpin, son of Marcos-era trade minister and business tycoon Roberto “Bobby” Ongpin, was found dead inside a room at the Flotsam and Jetsam Hostel in La Union in September 2021.
The police found 12 grams of cocaine inside the couple’s room. Jonson also tested positive for use of illegal drugs.
A source said the NBI Forensics Investigation is taking its time analyzing the surveillance footage taken at the hostel.
“The video would show if a crime was committed or not. It’s crucial to the investigation’s outcome,” the source said.
In December 2021, the Philippine National Police announced that Ongpin was no longer considered a person of interest in Jonson’s death despite being the last person who was seen with her on the night she died. Authorities said there were no indications of foul play.