President Rodrigo Duterte offered to help the artist Bree Jonson's family, their lawyer said Monday, after their initial theory on the circumstances surrounding her death clashed with the police.
Jonson's mother, Sally, earlier appealed to the President as a fellow Davaoeno to find justice for her daughter. The elder Jonson also urged billionaire Roberto Ongpin not to wield his influence to protect his son, Julian, who was seen with Jonson before she was found dead in the wee hours of Sept. 18.
READ: Bree Jonson's Mom Appeals to Roberto Ongpin: Don't Use Your Power
"The president naman, he definitely expressed help. In fact, siya nga ang nag-forward nitong issue na ito to NBI to aid us in investigating kung ano ang nangyari sa pagkamatay ni Bree," lawyer Ma. Moreni Salandanan told TeleRadyo.
Jonson's camp believes the PNP's initial findings on the artist's death were "faulty," Salandan said. The police said there were no signs of struggle and quoted Ongpin's testimony that Jonson took her own life.
Salandanan said there was a "double standard" on how local authorities treated the younger Ongpin, releasing him from custody despite facing charges for the 12.6 grams of cocaine that were found in their room. Both Ongpin and Jonson tested positive for drug use.
"In a sense, medyo merong double standard dito kasi what happened to my other clients before ay very different sa nangyari sa kaso ni Julian and Bree," she said, recalling how impossible it was for other drug suspects to be released from police custody.
"Hindi pa ba strong evidence ang more than 12 grams of cocaine na confiscated? Hindi pa ba nag-positive si Julian? Medyo off lang ito sa aming nasa legal field."
They also welcomed the DOJ and the NBI's investigation into her death.
"Ang hinahabol ng pamilya ay ang katotohanan lamang. Kasi without the truth, hindi nila makukuha 'yung closure that they deserve. Kasi as of now, very conflicting 'yung what we saw on the ground dun sa mga naging reports ng PNP," she said.
The PNP earlier told Jonson's family that the case shouldn't be turned into a "false rich-poor narrative," stressing that it was not taking sides. PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar also said he was confident that the PNP and the NBI would arrive at the same findings.
ALSO READ:
Police to Bree Jonson's Family: We are Not Taking Sides
Bree Jonson Case: PNP Rejects ‘Rich-Poor Divide’ Concerns
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