PRESIDING Judge Romeo Agacita Jr. of Branch 27 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in San Fernando City, La Union has dismissed the drug charges filed against Julian Ongpin for lack of probable cause.
Agacita issued his ruling on November 15, 2021 as the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence to pin down Ongpin.
Ongpin, son of former Trade secretary Roberto Ongpin, was accused of violating Section 11 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
He was a “person of interest” in the death of contemporary artist Bree Johnson in September this year.
Ongpin was charged after police found 12 grams of cocaine in the room where Johnson died.
Ongpin asked a court in that province to defer the issuance of an arrest warrant related to the drug possession charge against him, or dismiss the complaint outright. His lawyers filed a 16-page motion on October 21, before a regional trial court in San Fernando City, La Union, seeking the suspension of the proceedings.
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