Lucky South 99 official Cassandra Ong denies being ‘dummy’ for others

Cassandra Ong, the authorized representative of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) firm Lucky South 99, denied that she is a front for other individuals as questions arose over the amounts of money that she apparently handled.

The 24-year-old made the denial after lawmakers Keith Flores of Bukidnon and Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte told her that it was "apparent' that she is a dummy, given that she had issued large  cheques to individuals, paid $500,000 in dues to state-run regulator Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) for Lucky South 99 at one point, and owns 58% of Whirlwind Corporation, which leases the land where Lucky South 99 is located in Porac, Pampanga.

“Many of us think you are just used as a dummy. You are the dummy of the people behind these POGOs. The next question is, ikaw ba alam mo na iligal yung mga ginagawa o hindi? Kaya nga binibigyan ka namin ng pagkakataon na sabihin na ginamit ka, na dummy ka lang,” Barbers said during the House investigation on POGO-linked crimes.

(Do you know if what you are doing is illegal or not? That is why we are giving you a chance to say that you were used, that you are just a dummy.)

“But if you will insist that you are just an investor pero hindi mo sinasabi magkano ang in-invest mo, mas mananagot ka sa amin. Pangalawa, saan galing iyong pera mo,” he added.

(If you cannot even say how much you invested in Whirlwind, then you will be in bigger trouble. Secondly, where does your money come from?)

To which Ong replied, “Sa lahat ng question na po, hindi po ako dummy.”

(To all the questions, I am not a dummy.)

Barbers then replied if Ong was an investor, to which Ong answered, "Yes, Whirlwind po.”

House public order and safety panel chairperson and Laguna lawmaker Dan Fernandez then pressed Ong on how much she earned as an incorporator of Whirlwind Corporation.

“Can I not disclose that po?” she replied.

Ong has also refused to confirm whether she submitted income tax returns as a Whirlwind incorporator.

Fernandez found Ong’s answers unbelievable.

“You've been a incorporator of Whirlwind Corporation. As an incorporator, you would know how much you earn,” he said.

“You’re handling so much money and you don’t have a simple income tax return. You should just tell the truth here because we are the only ones who can help you out here,” he added.

The investigation proceeded and Ong was asked again about a certain Rainier Tiu.

Ong again refused to answer.

Shortly after that, Ong had to be excused from the proceedings since she was feeling dizzy due to low blood sugar.

The House of Representatives’ resident medical team later said that Ong’s blood pressure was too low at 80/40, and that she required hospital confinement.

The lawmakers then excused Ong from the proceedings for the rest of the day. — BM, GMA Integrated News