The Department of Justice has indicted Julian Roberto Ongpin, son ofcbillionaire and former trade minister Roberto Ongpin, for possessioncof illegal drugs (cocaine).
A panel of prosecutors created by the DOJ recommended the filing of accriminal complaint against Ongpin for violation of Section 11 ofcRepublic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2022cbefore the Regional Trial Court in San Fernando, La Union.
The DOJ said the criminal offense is non-bailable and that acprecautionary hold departure order (PHDO) has earlier been issued bycthe executive judge of the RTC last October 8.
“The panel of prosecutors assigned to conduct the preliminarycinvestigation of the complaint entitled ‘Philippine National Policec(PNP) San Juan La Union vs. Julian Roberto S. Ongpin issued resolution dated 18 October 2021 and resolved to indict respondent Julian RobertocOngpin y Stone for possession of dangerous drugs (i.e. cocaine) undercSection 11 of Republic Act no. 9165 or the Comprehensive DangerouscDrugs Act of 2002,” the DOJ said, in a statement.
The panel of prosecutors conducted two preliminary investigationchearings, which were both attended by Ongpin, before issuing its ruling.
The case arose from the recovery of 12.6 grams of cocaine in the room that Ongpin shared with his girlfriend 30-year-old Jonson at Flotsam and Jetsam Resort in La Union.
The cocaine were discovered after authorities responded to a report of attempted suicide at the resort and found Jonson unconscious in a room.
Jonson was brought to the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
Ongpin asserted that Jonson committed suicide as he found her hanging inside the bathroom, prompting him to seek assistance in bringing the latter to the hospital.
Both Ongpin and Jonson reportedly tested positive for illegal drug use.
The National Bureau of Investigation is still conducting an investigation to determine Jonson’s cause of death and Ongpin’s possible liability over the incident.