Atty. Ferdinand Topacio at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay, May 31, 2023 | PHOTO: INQUIRER.net/Ryan Leagogo
MANILA, Philippines — Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio is now the legal counsel of Cassandra Ong, the business partner of dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo.
Topacio arrived at the Bureau of Immigration in Manila around 8 p.m. on Thursday, just a few hours after Ong and Sheila Guo, the sister of the former mayor, returned to the Philippines from being held in Indonesia.
READ: Sheila Guo, Cassandra Ong brought to Bureau of Immigration from NAIA
In a brief ambush interview, Topacio said he is yet to determine what charges his client is facing.
“Ang ginagawa po natin ngayon hinihintay po natin na lumabas sa kanilang meeting ang ating immigration commissioner at ang ating NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) director,” Topacio told reporters on Thursday night.
(What we are doing now is waiting for our immigration commissioner and our NBI director to come out of their meeting.)
“Itatanong po natin sa kanya kung ano ang legal status, kung ide-detain si Ms. Cassy Li Ong, anong basis, kung may charges, ano ‘yung charges para maipagtanggol natin,” he added.
(We will ask him what the legal status is, if Ms. Cassy Li Ong will be detained, on what basis, and if there are charges, what are the charges so we can defend her.)
Topacio also said Ong is “okay” and “in high spirits.”
Justice Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Mico Clavano earlier said that Ong is facing charges of obstruction of justice and violation of the Passport Act.
READ: Arrest of Alice Guo’s sister, Ong in Indonesia confirms Pogo links – DOJ
Sheila Guo and Ong were detained at the Batam Special Class I Immigration Office on Aug. 21, and were handed to Philippine authorities on Thursday.
They arrived in Manila around 5 p.m. on Thursday.