PHILIPPINE National Police chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos yesterday denied reports that he went to Balesin Island last Sunday to meet the wealthy Ongpin family and discuss the dismissed drugs case of Ongpin scion Julian.
“There is no truth to the reported claim of the Jonson camp that I went to the island to meet the Ongpins to discuss the case of Julian Ongpin,” the PNP chief said in reaction to claims by the family of the late Bree Jonson, the artist-girlfriend of the young Ongpin.
“The Julian Ongpin case was dismissed and is on appeal. The DOJ and the NBI have been handling the parallel investigation, long before I was appointed as chief of the Philippine National Police. Any insinuation or attempt to link me to the Ongpin family is unfounded and baseless,” Gen. Carlos said in a statement.
Last November, the La Union Regional Trial Court dismissed the case for illegal possession of drugs filed by the local police against Julian, citing procedural lapses committed by officers who reported the seizure of 12.6 grams of cocaine inside a room being occupied by Ongpin and Jonson in San Juan municipality.
It was in the same room where Jonson was found dead.
Both Jonson and Ongpin tested positive for cocaine use when subjected to an examination by the PNP Forensic Group.
The DOJ appealed the dismissal of the case of Julian.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año earlier cleared Carlos of any responsibility regarding the helicopter crash in Quezon on Monday that killed a chopper crew and injured the pilot and his co-pilot.
“He (Gen. Carlos) is still the chief PNP and it’s rightful for him to use the PNP chopper to be able to attend a forthcoming official duty when there are no other available means,’’ the DILG chief said.
Año added that there is no need for Gen. Carlos to go on leave amid the ongoing investigation into the helicopter crash.
