Cassie Ong seeking companion in detention, QuadComm says

Cassandra Ong, the documented representative of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) firm Lucky South 99, has asked the House Quad Committee to allow her to have a companion while in detention.

“This is a letter request from Ms. Cassie (Cassandra Ong) requesting [us] to allow her friend to stay with her at the CIW (Correctional Institute for Women)," Abang Lingkod party-list Representative Stephen Paduano said before the Quad Comm proceedings ended past 1 a.m. on Friday.

"And the basis of this is she's suffering from severe mental breakdowns and anxiety attacks and currently in a state of severe depression,” he added.

Ong is in detention since she has been cited by the QuadComm in contempt over her continued refusal to submit Lucky South 99 documents and other related paperwork that the panel is asking.

Antipolo Representative Romeo Acop said the QuadComm should first consult with CIW authorities to be sure that such a request is compliant with their rules.

Paduano echoed Acop’s position.

“Pending verification with the CIW, with regards to their protocol, pag okay sila, go na natin. Kaysa naman mag-hearing pa tayo for this matter, Mr. Chairman, or wait for the next hearing,” Paduano said.

(If CIW allows it, then we issue our go signal instead of conducting a hearing for this matter.)

Santa Rosa, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, for his part, made a motion that House medical team be sent to CIW to check on Ong’s health condition.

Members of the QuadComm led by chairperson and Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers eventually agreed to adopt CIW’s position on Ong’s request.

“In that case, I would like to ask the committee secretariat to closely coordinate with the CIW. When the CIW replies and allows that a detainee be accompanied by a friend, then the committee will already allow a friend to accompany Ms. Cassandra Ong,” Barbers said.

The QuadComm suspects that Ong is just a dummy for Lucky South 99 due to her repeated refusal to show documents on her source of income. —AOL, GMA Integrated News