Push Admin

NBI conducts own autopsy on artist Bree Jonson

Article (news)

Mike Navallo, ABS-CBN News

<h3>NBI to also do psychological autopsy</h3><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE)</strong> — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) conducted Thursday its own autopsy on the body of painter Bree Jonson, who died in La Union on Saturday.</p><p>NBI spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin said the autopsy was conducted from 2 a.m. to 7 a.m. Specimens taken will undergo laboratory examinations.</p><p>“[We] will also ask PNP to share with us other pieces of evidence as they were the first responders at the scene of the crime,” Lavin said in a text message to the media.</p><p>“Crime Scene Investigation Team (Forensics) motored to La Union this morning to process the crime scene thereat,” he added.</p><p>Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra confirmed the NBI autopsy.</p><p>&quot;NBI forensic experts conducted a second autopsy this morning. Results are being carefully reviewed,&quot; he said in a message.</p><p>Lavin said the autopsy was done upon the request of Jonson&#x27;s family.</p><p>Lawyers from the Sunga, Salandanan and Ampuan Law Offices, who represent the Jonson family, earlier said in a statement that the NBI would conduct an autopsy. </p><p>They have yet to receive a final and conclusive autopsy report on Jonson and the medico-legal report on the arm injuries of Julian Ongpin, the last person seen with Jonson.</p><p>Police Regional Office 1 director Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Peralta told ANC Headstart Wednesday that Jonson died of asphyxia and tested positive for cocaine use. </p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1780626" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/22/21/bree-jonson-nasawi-sa-asphyxia-ongpin-cooperative-daw">Bree Jonson namatay sa asphyxia, Ongpin &#x27;cooperative&#x27;: pulisya</a></li></ul><p>There were also ligature marks on Jonson but it was not clear if these were self-inflicted, he added.</p><p>According to Peralta, Ongpin told police that Jonson committed suicide. But Jonson’s mother Salome refuses to believe this claim, nor the idea that her daughter died due to drug overdose.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1779163" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>Salome told ANC Headstart on Tuesday that she had doubts about the injuries on Ongpin&#x27;s arm.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1778757" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>Peralta said Ongpin claimed these came from nails when he supposedly went through the room&#x27;s window.</p><div><strong>PSYCHOLOGICAL AUTOPSY</strong></div><p>Lavin said the bureau would also do a psychological autopsy as it probes Jonson&#x27;s death. </p><p>According to Lavin, the NBI&#x27;s Behavioral Sciences Division would conduct interviews with friends and family members of Jonson in a bid to get her background and profile.</p><p>They are also tracking down Jonson and Ongpin&#x27;s companions the night before her death. </p><p>It plans to get a statement from Ongpin after collecting statements from witnesses, said Lavin.</p><p>Part of the investigation is determining also the source of the drugs found in the resort room where Jonson died. </p><div><strong>CCTV</strong></div><p>Jonson&#x27;s lawyers, with the PNP and the NBI, reviewed the CCTV footage at the hostel which supposedly showed Jonson and Ongpin in a “heated altercation minutes before she was found unconscious in their hotel room.”</p><p>It also showed Ongpin trying to get into the comfort room of their hostel room through the window using a ladder. </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Jonson&#x27;s lawyers with the PNP and NBI reviewed CCTV footage at the hostel showing Ongpin trying to get into the comfort room thru the window thru a ladder. A hostel staff later came up and Jonson&#x27;s body could be seen from the lobby&#x27;s CCTV. She was later brought to a hospital. <a href="https://t.co/OjZzBjr6k4">pic.twitter.com/OjZzBjr6k4</a></p>— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikenavallo/status/1440901540093464577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2021</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>A hostel staff arrived later, and Jonson&#x27;s body could be seen from the lobby&#x27;s CCTV.</p><p>She was brought to a hospital where she was declared dead upon arrival.</p><p>Jonson&#x27;s lawyers questioned the La Union prosecutor&#x27;s decision to release Ongpin despite the presence of the corpus delicti (body of the crime) and him being the only possible suspect. </p><p>Police also said they recovered 12 grams of cocaine from the hostel room.</p><p>Jonson&#x27;s lawyers added that based on the initial medico-legal report, there were &quot;signs of struggle.&quot;</p><p>&quot;There were bruises found in some other parts of Breanna&#x27;s body other than her neck,&quot; they said.</p><p>Guevarra said &quot;the possible transfer of the [Jonson] case to the DOJ head office for the conduct of preliminary investigation by state prosecutors is now under consideration.&quot; </p><p>But he refused to comment further &quot;to avoid prejudging the case.&quot;</p><p>Ongpin underwent inquest for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. But the La Union prosecutor ordered his release, saying it was not a proper case of warrantless arrest and decided to hold a preliminary investigation instead.</p><p>There was no explanation made as to why Ongpin was released despite being caught in possession of 12 grams of cocaine, a non-bailable offense under the same law.</p><div><strong>--- With reports from Niko Baua, ABS-CBN News</strong></div>

The NBI conducted Thursday its own autopsy on the body of painter Bree Jonson, who died in La Union on Saturday.

NBI conducts own autopsy on artist Bree Jonson

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

NBI conducts own autopsy on artist Bree Jonson

Mike Navallo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 23, 2021 02:40 PM PHT

|

Updated Sep 23, 2021 04:19 PM PHT

Read More:

Bree Jonson

Julian Ongpin

autopsy

NBI

National Bureau of Investigation

crime

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.