Cassandra Ong discharged from hospital

Cassandra Ong, the documented authorized representative of Lucky South 99 Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) firm, has been discharged from the hospital, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said Wednesday.

Velasco also said that Ong is healthy enough to face the ongoing House probe on crimes involving POGO companies.

Citing a report from House of Representatives Medical Director Dr. Louie Bautista, Velasco added that Ong was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday afternoon, September 10, and was safely brought back to the House of Representatives where she is under custody due to a standing contempt order over repeated absences in prior days of House investigations on POGO-linked crimes.

“The House is happy to report that she has  recovered with the treatment she received from the hospital and with all the diagnostic procedures she had, our in-house medical personnel can be fully prepared to handle any other medical condition she might have as she continues to appear in the QuadCom hearings,” Velasco quoted Bautista as saying.

“She will serve out the rest of her [30-day detention] contempt sentence at the House detention facility,” Bautista’s report added.

Likewise, the House said that it was able to send Ms. Ong to the hospital for her proper treatment and to diagnose any underlying cause for her condition "with effort and compassion."

Ong has earlier denied involvement in POGO activities, insisting that she is only a 58% owner of Whirlwind Corporation, the firm which owns the land and leases part of such land to Lucky South 99.

The 24-year-old, however, has refused to answer lawmakers' questions on how much she earned as part of Whirlwind Corporation and if she filed income tax returns.

Ong was rushed to the hospital last September 4 amid low blood pressure while facing the House probe on POGO-linked crimes.

Aside from the House probe, Ong is also facing money laundering and qualified trafficking charges over her role in Whirlwind Corporation and Lucky South 99. --VAL, GMA Integrated News