Ong breaks silence, avoids women’s jail
THE House quad committee has decided to lift the second contempt order against Cassandra Li Ong after she answered queries of the lawmakers during the 3rd public hearing on the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) activities.
Ong likewise agreed to sign a waiver for all her bank accounts so that the committee would be able to scrutinize her transactions.
The Filipino-Chinese national was already in the custody of the House of Representatives after she was arrested in Indonesia in connection with her involvement in POGO in Porac, Pampanga.
At the beginning of the hearing on Wednesday, Ong refused to testify and answer the questions because she feared for her life.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong made the proposal to lift the second contempt order, which would have put her under the custody of the Women’s Correctional Institution in Mandaluyong.
However, her detention in the House would stay until the quad committee terminates its hearing.
Aside from the illegal activities of POGO, the quad committee is also investigating the link of extra judicial killing and war on drugs of the former administration.
Ong was summoned to the inquiry following the alleged link of the Lucky South 99 to POGO. She was reportedly one of the incorporators of the company.
She denied accusation that she was involved in POGO. She told the panel that her business is real estate which rents out office spaces for POGO hubs, including Lucky South 99.
Ong also said she left Manila via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to go to Singapore, then later to Malaysia where she met her boyfriend Wesley Guo, the brother of former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo and Shiela Guo.
“Nagmessage po sa akin si Wesley Guo at that time at pinuntahan po namin siya,” Ong said.
Ong said she and the Guos traveled to Batam, Indonesia, where she and Shiela were arrested by authorities and deported back to the Philippines.