PNP chief denies meeting with Ongpin’s family

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos yesterday branded as baseless insinuations that he met with the family of Julian Ongpin at the luxurious Balesin Island over the weekend.

Carlos denied his trip to Balesin had something to do with the case Ongpin is facing in relation to the death of renowned painter Bree Jonson.

“There is no truth to the reported claim of the Jonson camp that I went to the island to meet the Ongpins to discuss the case of Julian Ongpin,” Carlos said in a statement to reporters.

The island resort is owned by Ongpin’s family.

Carlos pointed out the case against Ongpin has been dismissed and is on appeal.

He noted that the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation had been conducting parallel probes on Jonson’s death long before he was appointed PNP chief.

“Any insinuation or attempt to link me to the Ongpin family is unfounded and baseless,” Carlos said.