Bree Jonson's mother wants HDO vs. daughter's last companion

The mother of the late artist Bree Jonson on Tuesday appealed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue a hold departure order against the person of interest in her daughter's death.

"I'm reaching out to you, [Justice] Secretary Menardo [Guevarra]... asking for an immigration lookout bulletin order because of Julian Ongpin's possible involvement in the death of my daughter Bree Jonson," Sally Jonson said in an ANC interview.

"I also requested for this DOJ frontline a hold departure order for Julian for possession of illegal drugs," she added as she feared that Ongpin might have already left the country.

According to Jonson, Ongpin was detained at the police precinct in La Union due to illegal possession of drugs but was released on Monday.

"As far as I know, in the Philippine law, possession of illegal drugs is non-bailable," she said.

Police over the weekend discovered the body of Jonson, 30, in a La Union beach resort and filed a complaint against Ongpin, who was with her, for alleged violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Ongpin, son of businessman Roberto Ongpin, tested positive for cocaine, police said. Some 12.6 grams of the illegal substance were recovered from him, it added.

A complaint for violation of Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 has been filed against Ongpin, the police also said.

The Filipino artist community, meanwhile, expressed sadness over Jonson's death.

Boyfriend?

Jonson said she was aware that her daughter would go to an artist's residence in La Union, but she did not know the exact date.

She also said she had no knowledge on whether her daughter was currently in a relationship. However, a friend contacted her and informed her that Ongpin was allegedly Bree's boyfriend.

"Ni hindi ko nga alam sino 'yan si Julian, but then nu'ng sinabi 'yung last name, Ongpin, yeah, kilala natin, pamilyar 'yung last name," Jonson said.

(I didn't even know who Julian is, but when I was told that his last name is Ongpin, yeah, we know that, we are familiar with the last name.)

Jonson denied her daughter was taking drugs.

"No. Ang alam ko si Trixie hindi gumagamit ng ganiyang klaseng drugs. In fact ang alam ko she's against it. 'Yun ang alam ko," she said, using Bree's nickname.

(What I know is that Trixie is not using that kind of drugs. In fact, from what I know, she's against it.)

However, Jonson said Bree was taking her anti-anxiety medications.

Autopsy report

Receving mugshots from the autopsy report, Jonson claimed marks were seen on the neck of Bree's body.

Her neck area was also red in color supposedly due to pressure, Jonson said.

"Maiisip mo na something happened there. Kasi ang pinalalabas, nagsi-circulate sa social media, is that nag-OD (overdose) o nag-suicide ang anak ko. Hindi eh," she said.

(You would think that something happened there. What was being released and circulating on social media is that my daughter had an OD (overdose) or committed suicide. But no.)

Ongpin's testimony was also different from authorities' findings.

"Ang una ang sabi nakita raw niya (Ongpin) nagkulong daw sa banyo 'yung anak ko and she hanged herself. Tapos noong lumabas kahapon, nakita siya on the bed, lifeless,"

(At first he said he saw her lock herself in the toilet then hanged herself. But reports came out yesterday that Bree was found in bed, lifeless.)

Ongpin however asked for help to bring the artist to a hospital.

Jonson also saw mugshots of Ongpin, and suspected that he and Bree might have had a fight.

"Talagang nakakatakot, nakapaninindig ng balahibo. 'Yung arm ni Julian, may mga deep scratches. So ano 'yun? Talagang nanlaban ang anak ko, sino ang gagawa no'n sa kaniya? It's fresh deep scratches sa arm niya."

(It was truly frightening, hair-raising. Julian's arm had deep scratches. What was that? My daughter really fought, who else would have done that to her? It's fresh deep scratches on his (Ongpin) arm.)

Jonson added resort employees claimed they heard noises or commotion from Bree and Ongpin's room prior to the incident.

Jonson, who came from Canada, appealed to the Bureau of Quarantine for a seven-day quarantine period and to have her RT-PCR test to be able to attend Bree's wake in Quezon City.

She said their family plans to take Bree's body to Davao to give her burial. —KBK/KG, GMA News