Cassandra Ong skips Senate probe due to medical condition

Cassandra Li Ong on Thursday skipped the continuation of the Senate investigation into the supposed escape of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.

This comes after the House of Representatives sent a letter dated September 4 to the Senate subcommittee on justice and human rights informing the panel that they approved the Senate's request for Ong to appear in their hearings but she is "currently unwell and cannot attend" the probe.

"During our own public hearing today (September 4), Ms. Ong's blood sugar and blood pressure went so low that the Joint Committee decided to suspend the hearing and excuse her from testifying upon the advice of the attending medical doctors of the House of Representatives," the letter from the joint committees of the House Representative read.

"According to our own doctors, Ms. Ong may need to be confined in a hospital and may require 2 to 3 days to stabilize her health condition," it further read.

During the first hearing last week, senators requested the House of Representatives to allow Ong to attend their investigation into the alleged escape of Guo.

The request was granted by the four House committees which are jointly investigating Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO)-related crimes.

Ong is the named authorized representative of the raided POGO firm in Porac, Pampanga.

She is also the girlfriend of Wesley Guo, Alice's supposed brother.

Ong and Alice's supposed sister Shiela were intercepted by Indonesian authorities and were brought back to the Philippines on August 22.

Shiela is currently detained at the Senate while Ong was in the custody of the House of Representative. —VAL, GMA Integrated News