Cassandra Ong unwell, skips Senate probe into Alice Guo escape

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/House of Representatives media bureau

MANILA, Philippines — Alice Guo’s alleged business associate Cassandra Ong skipped the Senate subpanel on justice’s Thursday hearing on the dismissed Bamban mayor’s escape from the Philippines, as she is reportedly sick and hospitalized.

During the hearing, subpanel head Risa Hontiveros asked the committee secretary if Ong would attend, but the secretary confirmed that Ong would not be present.

“We have received an excuse letter from the House of Representatives stating that Ms. Ong is in the hospital,” the committee secretary said.

READ: Cassandra Ong excused from quad-comm hearing as BP fell to 80/40

He then read a letter from House panel on dangerous drugs committee secretary Artur Felix Catarata dated September 4, 2024.

“Please be informed that while the joint committee had approved your rests, Ms. [Cassandra] Ong is currently unwell and cannot attend the aforesaid public hearing. During our own public hearing today, Ms. Ong’s blood sugar and blood pressure went so low that the joint committee decided to suspend the hearing and excuse her from testifying upon the advice of the attending medical doctors of the House of Representatives,” the letter read.

“According to our own doctors, Ms. Ong may need to be confined in a hospital and may require two to three days to stabilize her health condition,” it further stated.

Ong is an incorporator to Whirlwind Corporation, which leased land to Lucky South 99, a Philippine offshore gaming operator that was raided in Pampanga last June.

READ: Lawmakers fume over Cassandra Ong’s behavior at House hearing

During the lower chamber’s proceedings, Ong admitted that Wesley Guo, Alice Guo’s brother, is her boyfriend but vehemently denied having any other ties with Guo.

The Department of Justice had filed charges against Ong before a Pasay City Court for violating Section 1(c) of Presidential Decree No. 1829 for Obstruction of Justice, specifically for harboring, concealing, or facilitating the escape of a criminal offender.

Ong was repatriated back to the Philippines in August after she and Shiela Guo were apprehended in Indonesia.