House to take custody of Pogo land lessor Cassandra Ong

PHOTO: PAOCC Usec Gilbert Cruz

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives will take custody of Katherine Cassandra Li Ong, the incorporator of the company that leased parcels of land to a Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub in Porac, Pampanga.

On Thursday, the House released an order to arrest Ong to the media after it was reported that she and Shiela Guo, the sister of dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, were arrested in Indonesia and set to return to the Philippines.

Ong reportedly holds a 58 percent stake at Whirlwind Corporation, which leased land in Porac to Lucky South 99.

The House quad-committee cited Ong for contempt after failing to show up despite repeated invites from the panels.

“In view of the attached contempt order issued by the Joint Committee composed of the committee on dangerous drugs, public order and safety, human rights, and public accounts on 16 August 2024 against Katherine Cassandra Li Ong and pursuant to the authority of the Speaker… you are hereby ordered to TAKE INTO CUSTODY and DETAIN Katherine Cassandra Li Ong for contempt of the House of Representatives for a period of 30 days,” the quad-committee chairpersons noted on the document dated August 21.

Ong would stay at the House’s detention facility.

Earlier, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. confirmed that Ong and Shiela Guo were arrested in Indonesia.

READ: 2 of Alice Guo’s companions arrested in Indonesia – Abalos

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the arrest of Ong and Shiela Guo proves the connection between the raided Pogo hubs in Porac and Bamban.

READ: Arrest of Alice Guo’s sister, Ong in Indonesia confirms Pogo links – DOJ

During the hearing of the House committee on public order and safety on July 23, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission said they believe Ong is not a Filipino national as she availed of the late birth registration scheme that Alice Guo supposedly did.

During the probe, a local birth certificate indicating that Ong is a Filipino was shown, alongside another document showing that Ong’s father is a Chinese national.

READ: PAOCC: Woman linked to Porac Pogo may also be a Chinese national

Alice Guo has been on the hot seat ever since a Senate panel established her links to the Pogo in Bamban, Tarlac, which was raided last March 13 due to human trafficking complaints.

Authorities believe Alice Guo’s company, Baofu Land Development Inc., leased land in Bamban to Pogo hub operator Zun Yuan.

Alice Guo claims to have divested ownership of Baofu, but the Department of the Interior and Local Government believes the amount she divested it for—P2.5 million—was “grossly incongruent to her investment on Baufo which is approximately eight hectares of land.”