Cassandra Ong now detained at House premises – Barbers

Katherine Cassandra Li Ong, an incorporator of Whirlwind Corporation which leased land to a Philippine offshore gaming operator in Porac, Pampanga, has been officially turned-over to the House of Representatives. An arrest order for Ong was released last August 21 after she was cited for contempt by the quad-committee, for refusing to attend the hearings. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines —Whirlwind Corporation incorporator Katherine Cassandra Li Ong is now officially detained at the House of Representatives, Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers confirmed on Monday afternoon.

In a statement, Barbers said that it is important for the House to take custody of Ong as she is the only link to Lucky South 99 — the Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub in Porac, Pampanga that was raided last June 4.

Whirlwind leased land to Lucky South 99, but several resource persons have testified that Ong is also involved with the Pogo operator.

“Cassandra Li Ong’s presence is important because she is our only link to Lucky South 99 and other illegal POGO hubs that were raided by the PAOCC.  Her participation is big because she appears to be the liaison between these illegal Pogos and Pagcor (Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation),” Barbers, chair of the House committee on dangerous drugs said.

READ: Cassandra Ong on the way to House detention facility, says Fernandez 

“We also need to obtain information from her about the owners, lawyers, and incorporators involved in these operations, because it’s clear that there are numerous illegal activities going on. The first question we need to ask her is whether she was aware of the scam hubs, torture, prostitution, and other illicit activities. Cassandra Li Ong is a very vital resource person in the quad-committee’s investigation into illegal POGOs,” he added.

Earlier, a photo of Ong inside the House detention facility was released by sources, hours after Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez confirmed that Ong was being transported from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to the House premises.

Ong is said to own a 58 percent stake at Whirlwind Corporation, the company that leased a land in Porac, Pampanga, to Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) Lucky South 99.

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

At least 186 foreign and Filipino workers were rescued from that Porac Pogo hub, which was raided last June 4 over human trafficking concerns.

Fernandez’s statements came after separate confirmations from House Sergeant-at-Arms, retired Police Maj. Gen. Napoleon Taas, and Ong’s counsel, Ferdinand Topacio.

Sources also showed NBI’s turn-over documents received by Taas. The House formally accepted the turn-over at 12:57 p.m.

The transfer to the House comes after Ong and Shiela Guo, sister of dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo, were arrested by Indonesian authorities last Wednesday, according to the Philippine National Police.

Both Ong and Shiela Guo were immediately sent back to the Philippines on Thursday, August 22.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) believes the arrest of the Ong and Shiela Guo in Indonesia only proves links between the Pogos in Bamban and Porac.

The Bamban Pogo hub which was also raided, meanwhile, was linked to former mayor Guo as her former company, Baofu Land Development Inc., leased land 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.”

Ong’s detention is authorized by an arrest order released last August 21, as she was cited for contempt by the House quad-committee for repeatedly skipping several hearings.

The quad-committee is investigating the possible links between illegal activities in Pogos, the illicit drug trade, and possible rights violations in the drug war.

Key witness

Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. said Ong will be a key witness since she can shed light on several issues, including former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s possible involvement in Pogos.

Roque has denied several times that he is involved in Pogos, but his bank documents and that of his former executive assistant, Alberto Rodulfo “AR” De La Serna, were found in Lucky South 99 Pogo hub during its raid.

READ: Roque’s bank documents found in raided Pampanga Pogo – PAOCC 

It was also revealed later on that Roque accompanied Ong to Pagcor. Pagcor chief Alejandro Tengco said Roque reached out to his office to request a rescheduling of the arrears payment for a lessee and principal of his client, Whirlwind Corporation.

READ: Harry Roque denies being legal counsel for raided Pogo hub 

“The quad-committee intends to invite Ms. Ong to our next hearing to shed light on critical issues. For instance, her testimony will help us ascertain the true nature of Atty. Harry Roque’s ties to Lucky South 99,” Abante said. “During our hearings, Atty. Roque has insisted that he is not representing this POGO, despite substantial evidence suggesting otherwise.”

“However, given that Atty. Roque is an experienced lawyer, it is hard to believe that he is unaware that Cassandra Ong is not only the president of Whirlwind, a supposed real estate firm, but also the president of Lucky South 99, which actually owns the POGO hub,” he pointed out.

According to Abante, the actions taken by Roque — helping Ong — contradicts his denial of links to Pogo hubs.

“As the saying goes, ‘If it walks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it is most likely a duck.’ The actions of Atty. Roque on behalf of Lucky South 99 contradict his words, and we believe Ms. Ong can help us settle this matter once and for all,” he stressed.