House issues order to take custody of Cassandra Li Ong

The House of Representatives on Thursday issued an order to take custody of Cassandra Li Ong, who is being linked to a raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga.

Ong, the official representative of Lucky South 99 POGO, has been slapped with a contempt order issued by four House committees for her continued failure to attend the investigation on POGO-related crimes, including those allegedly involving the firm.

Lucky South 99's documented corporate secretary Ronalyn Baterna earlier told the House probe that she issued cheques to their clients, including one worth P500,000 sourced from Ong.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) revealed that Ong is a naturalized Filipino citizen and she was registered a year after she was born.

The PSA said Ong has a Chinese mother and a Filipino father.

It was further revealed that Ong also worked as a translator for Duanren Wu, one of Whirlwind Corporation’s incorporators, but during the time she was with the company, it was called “Dragon Wealth.”

Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque earlier said Whirlwind was a service provider of Lucky South 99.

Ong, who was intercepted while reportedly trying to depart Indonesia on Wednesday, is expected to return to the Philippines late Thursday afternoon. 

Also intercepted in Indonesia was Sheila Guo, sister of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, who is facing charges in connection with a raided POGO hub in her jurisdiction.

Ong is among the people listed on the immigration lookout bulletin order released by the Department of Justice. 

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) earlier said it rejected the reapplication of Lucky South 99's license due to several violations as found in their internal findings.

The House committee invited the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines in the next hearing to know the flight schedule and plane used by the former mayor’s sister and Ong. 

The inquiry took 11 hours before it was suspended.—With Mariel Celine Serquina/KBK, GMA Integrated News