Jinggoy: Birthplace in Cassandra Ong's birth certificate non-existent

The birthplace indicated in the birth certificate of Cassandra Li Ong, the authorized representative of the POGO firm Lucky South 99, does not exist, Senator Jinggoy Estrada said Tuesday.

Estrada questioned the details in Ong’s birth certificate during the continuation of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality with the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs hearing on illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).

“Base sa record ng birth certificate mo, ipinanganak ka sa San Juan...ipinanganak ka through hilot by a certain Rosario Mendez...at ang address na nakalagay ay 347 P. Mendoza St.,” said Estrada.

(According to your birth certificate, you were born in San Juan. You were delivered through hilot by a certain Rosario Mendez and the address indicated is 347 P. Mendoza St.)

“Wala na raw ngayong house number maski noon pa...Wala rin nakakakilala sa sinasabing manghihillot na nagngangalang Rosario Mendez. I'd like to point out that the place of birth indicated in the certificate of live birth is 345 P. Mendoza St, wala pong ganiyang address or house number sa San Juan,” the senator said.

(There is no such house number, even back then...No one also knows the so-called hilot Rosario Mendez. I'd like to point out that the place of birth indicated in the certificate of live birth is 345 P. Mendoza St, which is a non-existent address or house number in San Juan.)

He added: “It seems the entries in the birth certificate are quite questionable.”

Meanwhile, the legislator asked the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to investigate Ong’s birth certificate after it was found that her purported parents have no registered marriage certificate despite being indicated in her certificate of live birth.

“This is another case of a questionable birth certificate issued through late registration. There is no basis for the issuance of Cassie Ong's birth certificate. This should be investigated and immediately be canceled if there are findings,” said Estrada.

The PSA, for its part, said it has launched a fact-finding panel to investigate the birth certificate of Ong and other individuals.

Ong participated on the Senate hearing for the first time after she previously skipped the legislative inquiry citing her medical condition.

She claimed she had low blood sugar and blood pressure and also filed a petition for certiorari, asking the Supreme Court to direct Congress to honor her right to remain silent and right against self-incrimination during hearings into POGO-related crimes.

In August, Ong was flown back to the Philippines with the dismissed mayor’s supposed sister, Shiela Guo, after they were intercepted in Indonesia. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News