The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday, September 22, confirmed that it had already concluded the second autopsy on the body of Bree Jonson, the artist who was found dead in a La Union hotel over the weekend. 

“We already did. [We] started around 2:00 a.m. and concluded around 7 a.m. today,” NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin said in a message to reporters. 

However, according to Lavin, the autopsy report has yet to be released. The NBI official added that the specimen taken from Jonson will undergo to further laboratory examinations. 

On September 18, the police said authorities found the lifeless body of Jonson in a La Union resort. Her companion and boyfriend Julian Ongpin said it was a case of suicide. 

Ongpin is the 29-year-old son of Roberto Ongpin, one of the wealthiest businessmen in the Philippines, and former Minister of Trade and Industry during the Marcos administration.

On Thursday, Jonson’s family said they let the NBI conduct another autopsy to “uncover the truth, exhaust all remedies to secure justice for Breanna’s untimely demise, and find closure for the family, friends, and loved ones of Breanna.” The NBI also confirmed that the second autopsy was a request from the family. 

The first autopsy conducted by a Philippine National Police (PNP) crime laboratory in San Fernando City revealed that Jonson died of asphyxiation or lack of oxygen. During a press conference on Thursday, PNP chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar said the result of histopathological examination on Jonson’s body would be released in a week. 

Despite the result of the first autopsy, Eleazar also reiterated that the case was still ongoing. The PNP and NBI would also conduct an operation into the incident. 

“Both the victim, as well as her companion, ay parehong tested positive doon sa drugs (both tested positive for illegal drugs). Just like what the special investigation task group has mentioned during their earlier pronouncement,” Eleazar said during Thursday’s press conference.

Police filed charges against Ongpin for possession of cocaine under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act or RA 9165, but released him from detention.

After Jonson’s body was found, the local police conducted an initial probe at the scene. The cops seized cocaine inside the room occupied by Jonson and Ongpin.

According to Lavin, the NBI would ask the PNP for the pieces of evidence the police retrieved at the crime scene as first responders on the case. Lavina added that the Crime Scene Investigation Team, NBI’s forensics team, went to La Union to also process the crime scene. 

Later, the La Union Prosecutor’s Office released Ongpin pending further investigation. After his release, the Department of Justice put Ongpin under immigration lookout list by the request of Jonson’s mother.

Ongpin was released upon inquest pending a full-blown preliminary investigation. It’s unusual to release someone arrested without a warrant if it’s a non-bailable offense. Ongpin was caught with more than 12 grams of cocaine, which is non-bailable under RA 9165. Caught in the act – or in this case, catching someone in possession of the drugs – is also an element of a valid warrantless arrest.

Asked how this could happen, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said, “I refrain from commenting on or interfering in cases which are still under preliminary investigation.”

The DOJ, however, has taken the case out of the local prosecutors’ office to the headquarters in Padre Faura.

“The case has generated a lot of public interest, so I want to make sure that it is handled very well. The prosecutor general as head of my prosecution staff will designate the state prosecutors who will handle the preliminary investigation of the case,” said Guevarra. – with reports from Lian Buan/Rappler.com