THE Department of Justice (DOJ) remains optimistic that the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of San Fernando, La Union would reconsider its decision dismissing the drug charges filed against Julian Ongpin. “Prosecutors are always optimistic. However, we leave it to the sound discretion of the court,” Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento said. The prosecutors…
Julian Ongpin (File photo) MANILA - Government prosecutors will present additional evidence against Julian Ongpin on Monday after the La Union Regional Trial Court (RTC) hearing the motion for reconsideration of the junked drug possession charges against the billionaire's son agreed. San Fernando, La Union RTC Branch 27 Judge Romeo Agacita Jr. ordered a video hearing, Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento told reporters via text message on Friday. "A presentation of evidence on the motion (is) set on December 7," Malcontento said. The La Union RTC earlier dismissed the criminal case for lack of probable cause to issue a warrant of arrest against Ongpin, who was caught with 12.685 grams of cocaine at a hostel room in San Juan town on September 18. The policemen who arrested Ongpin failed to comply with the provisions of Section 21 of Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act) that requires compliance with the chain of custody of seized illegal drugs, acco
Julian Ongpin (File photo) MANILA - Government prosecutors will present additional evidence against Julian Ongpin on Monday after the La Union Regional Trial Court (RTC) hearing the motion for reconsideration of the junked drug possession charges against the billionaire's son agreed. San Fernando, La Union RTC Branch 27 Judge Romeo Agacita Jr. ordered a video hearing, Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento told reporters via text message on Friday. "A presentation of evidence on the motion (is) set on December 7," Malcontento said. The La Union RTC earlier dismissed the criminal case for lack of probable cause to issue a warrant of arrest against Ongpin, who was caught with 12.685 grams of cocaine at a hostel room in San Juan town on September 18. The policemen who arrested Ongpin failed to comply with the provisions of Section 21 of Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act) that requires compliance with the chain of custody of seized illegal drugs, acco
Julian Roberto Ongpin (File photo) MANILA - The drug possession case against Julian Roberto Ongpin has been raffled to a La Union court while an arrest warrant has yet to be issued. The case against the 29-year-old art gallery owner and billionaire's son was raffled off Thursday to the San Fernando City, La Union Regional Trial Court Branch 27, under Judge Romeo Agacita, according to Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary and spokesperson Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, in a text message to reporters. "He is the same judge who issued the provisional hold departure order," she added. "As of this morning, a warrant of arrest has yet to be issued. We will secure a copy as soon as it is already available." In February, Agacita also sentenced a former vice mayor's aide, Leonardo Banaag Jr., to life imprisonment for the June 2010 murder of radio broadcaster Jovelito Agustin in Laoag City. Banaag worked for then-Bacarra Vice Mayor Pacifico Velasco. Prosecutors recomme