Katherine Cassandra Ong, an incorporator of Whirlwind Corporation, was presented before the House of Representatives quad-committee to hear her side regarding issues surrounding the Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub in Porac, Pampanga. (File photo from the House of Representatives media bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — Whirlwind Corporation stakeholder Katherine Cassandra Li Ong has backed out from a previous commitment to sign a bank secrecy waiver, Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez said on Wednesday.
During the fourth House of Representatives quad-committee hearing, Fernandez said Ong also would no longer be able to use an executive session to spill information on Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos).
Under an executive session, lawmakers and necessary resource persons would discuss issues in a closed-door meeting to avoid legal issues and the compromise of national security.
“Nitong nakaraang hearing ay nakita natin na nagda-dalawang isip si Cassandra Li Ong na ibahagi ang totoong ginagampanan nya bilang authorized representative ng Lucky South 99. Hindi rin siya handa upang pangalanan ang mga boss o financier ng mga illegal Pogo operations,” Fernandez said in his opening speech.
(During the last hearing, we saw that Cassandra Li Ong was hesitant to clarify her true role as an authorized representative of Lucky South 99. She also was not ready to name the boss or financier of illegal Pogo operations.)
“Tinanggihan nya ang pagkakataon na ibinigay ng quad-comm na magkaroon ng isang executive session,” he also told his fellow lawmakers.
(She denied the chance given by the quad-comm for an executive session.)
“Sa umpisa ay pumayag siya na mag-execute ng bank waiver, ngunit ito ay kanyang binawi dahil sa alang-alang nya na ito ay magsisilbing ebidensya laban sa kanya sa kasong money laundering na inihain ng PAOCC (Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission) at AMLC (Anti-Money Laundering Council),” he added.
(Initially, she agreed to execute a bank waiver, but she recalled this because she feels this might be used as evidence against her for money laundering cases filed by PAOCC and AMLC.)
Ong was cited for contempt again during the quad-committee’s hearing last August 28, after she refused to answer questions raised by lawmakers.
But after Ong cooperated and responded to queries, the contempt order which would have sent her to the Correctional Institute for Women was lifted, under the condition that she signed a bank secrecy waiver.
READ: Contempt order vs Ong lifted after answering solons’ queries
According to Fernandez, Ong’s testimony would have been vital to the quad-committee’s investigation, as she had admitted that there are relations between Whirlwind Corporation and Pogo hub operator Lucky South 99.
Whirlwind, where Ong holds a 58 percent share, leased land in Porac, Pampanga to Lucky South 99.
Lawmakers believe Whirlwind and Lucky South 99 are interconnected due to the presence of common corporate officials like Ong.
“Being the beneficial owner of 58 percent of the shares of Whirlwind Corporation, and the trusted translator of Whirlwind Director Duanren Wu, it stands to reason that she has sufficient knowledge about the affairs of the two companies,” Fernandez observed.
“As for the testimony of Lucky South 99 incorporators Ronelyn Baterna and Stephanie Mascareñas, we have seen that Chinese nationals have assigned them as officers of the Pogo corporations and even made it appear that they have invested millions as paid-up capital, in order to give a semblance of the Filipino ownership of the Pogo corporations,” he explained.
At the quad-committee hearing last August 28, Ong also admitted to 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez that she was part of both Whirlwind and Lucky South 99 — confirming the hunch of several lawmakers that she worked for both land lessee and Pogo operator.
“Ms. Ong, you are linked to some corporations, like Whirlwind and Lucky South 99 […] Are you associated with the corporations Whirlwind and Lucky South 99?” Gutierrez asked.
“Yes po,” she answered.
Furthermore, Ong said she did not start with Lucky South 99 as an executive assistant, contrary to what some persons thought.
However, she asked that she not reveal her first job supposedly for the sake of privacy.
She claimed that she only processed the applications of Lucky South 99 and Whirlwind before the Securities and Exchange Commission.
READ: After VP Duterte, Rep. Gutierrez also gets Cassandra Ong to speak
The quad-committee is investigating a possible correlation between illegal activities in Pogo hubs, the illicit drug trade, and the alleged extrajudicial killings in the past administration’s drug war.
During the previous three hearings, several issues have been discussed, like an alleged order from former President Rodrigo Duterte to kill three Chinese convicted for drug-related charges; the alleged involvement of Duterte’s allies and relatives in the smuggling of illegal drugs; and a directive reportedly from Senator Ronald dela Rosa to kill drug suspects in Albuera, Leyte.
READ: Duterte ordered killing of 3 Chinese men in 2016, hitman claims
READ: ‘Don’t name Paolo Duterte, Mans Carpio, Yang in 2018 shabu import mess’
All the personalities mentioned have denied the allegations leveled against them, saying that these issues were only raised for politicking purposes.