THE family of Dabawenya artist Bree Jonson who was laid to rest on Wednesday afternoon, September 29, 2021, continues to cry for justice for her death.
Bree was laid to rest at the Davao Memorial Park attended by limited members of the family and some of her close friends in accordance with the Covid-19 restrictions.
Sally Jonson, Bree's mother, poured out her grief when she saw her daughter's face for the last time.
"Hindi dapat nangyari sa anak ko ito (This shouldn’t have happened to my daughter)," Sally said as her daughter's body was being buried.
On Tuesday evening, September 28, the eve of Bree’s burial, her family and friends shared fond memories during the eulogy.
Sally recalled her daughter's journey in the art scene and how she was passionate about her craft.
Aside from being an art lover, the mother also revealed that her daughter was a "bookworm," or a person who is fond of reading books. Her daughter was also a writer who loved making poems and books.
Bree, born as Breanna Patricia Jonson Agunod, was a graduate of industrial engineering at the Ateneo de Davao University. She also enrolled at the UP College of Fine Arts. She, however, quit after a semester.
Sally said she was very supportive of her daughter’s career as an artist.
“I’m so proud of [Bree] kasi (because) she’s a self-made artist. She puts her heart into it if she wants something,” she said.
She also described Bree's work as “deep,” which always had a story behind it.
According to her friends, Sally said her daughter had envisioned establishing a school for kids and teaching them arts.
"I’m so proud of her because she has proven herself in the art scene. Nakakalungkot isipin na wala na siya. Ang bata-bata niya, andami niyang pangarap (It is sad to think that she is no longer with us. She is so young, and she had many dreams in life),” Sally said.
Sally said it was in 2018 when she last saw her daughter face to face. She migrated to Canada after being accepted for work there.
She said Bree was supposed to follow her there after securing a permanent resident visa. Her daughter did not follow suit after deciding to stay in the Philippines to pursue her career.
The mother became emotional when she mentioned Bree’s boyfriend, Julian Ongpin, whom the family blames for her death.
Sally said her daughter did not mention nor introduce Ongpin to her.
Bree was found dead inside a hotel room of a beach resort in La Union on September 18. Police reports showed that Ongpin was the last person she was in company with before her death.
Based on the initial report of her autopsy examination, Jonson died of asphyxia.
Sally said she is not convinced that her daughter's boyfriend has no involvement in the death of her daughter.
She also asked for prayers for her daughter.
"Ang favor ko nalang sa lahat (All I’m asking), one last time, is to continue to pray for her so that she may find a light and follow it. Kasi mahaba-habang dasal iyon. (It is a long prayer.) We just pray for her soul,” Sally said.
During the livestream of Bree’s interment, the family, who manages the Justice for Bree Jonson Facebook page, pinned a comment, airing their disappointment with the current investigation of Bree’s case.
“Bree's IG profile's description says ‘The Personal is Political.’ This slogan came up in the 1970s to explain that all injustices we experience are all caused by political circumstances. How the case is being handled now is a clear example of this. #justiceforbreejonson,” the pinned comment states.
Sally told SunStar Davao in a recent phone interview that they are disappointed with the ongoing investigation, and how the Philippine National Police (PNP) is handling it.
"Kaya kami nafu-frustrate with PNP, kami, wala kaming pera, but we manage to get our legal team. Siya hindi mo nakikita, wala kang naririnig, wala akong narinig na pangalan ng kanyang legal, ni isa, wala akong napangalanan,” she said.
(We are frustrated with the PNP. We do not have enough money, but we managed to get our legal team. While on the part of the Ongpins, we do not hear anything from them. We do not even know their legal team. Neither a single name, we are not aware.)