MANILA, Philippines — Sual, Pangasinan Mayor Dong Calugay has denied that he had a connection with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) probe key witness Cassandra Ong and Whirlwind Corporation top executive Duanren Wu.
During the Senate hearing on women, children, family relations, and gender equality on Tuesday, Senator Risa Hontiveros questioned the mayor about his ties to Ong and Wu. This came after a photo surfaced showing him alongside dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo (real name: Guo Hua Ping) at a mass wedding in Sual in February 2024.
READ: Pogo lessor ‘big boss’ an ex-Chinese cop, House told
“Nandyan po sila sa kasalang bayan na kababanggit niyo lang. May photographic evidence. Naalala niyo na po?” Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate panel, asked.
(They were there at the mass wedding that you just mentioned. There is photographic evidence. Do you remember?)
Photographs show Sual, Pangasinan mayor Dong Calugay being sighted with dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo, Cassandra Ong, and Duanren Wu. (Photo from Senator Risa Hontiveros/Facebook)
“Noong kasalang bayan, marami pong kasama si Mayor Alice pero hindi ko po kilala yung iba,” Calugay answered.
(During the mass wedding, Mayor Alice was accompanied by many people but I didn’t know the others.)
Hontiveros’ question arose after Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada asked Calugay when he first met Guo. The senator also referred to Guo as “love” as a form of endearment, which Calugay denied.
READ: Sual Mayor Dong Calugay denies relationship with Alice Guo
Calugay then said that he met Guo back in 2016 when he was still not a mayor and Guo had a piggery business.
“Naghahanap po ako ng magsusupply ng baboy. Isa po siya sa napuntahan ko para mag-inquire ng presyo,” Calugay added.
(I was looking for a pig supplier. She was one of those I inquired about the price.)
Estrada then asked when he last met Guo, to which the Sual mayor said that they met at a mass wedding.
Cassandra Ong, Guo’s alleged business partner, is an incorporator of Whirlwind Corporation, which leased land to Lucky South 99, a raided Pogo in Porac, Pampanga.
READ: Pogo lessor ‘big boss’ an ex-Chinese cop, house told
Ong previously confirmed in a House quad committee hearing that Wu was the top executive of Whirlwind Corp. and also a former Chinese police official. Ong also said that Wu is her godfather and a family friend of her mother.
Ong also told the quad panel that Wu worked for the Chinese government before venturing into business.
Ong and Shiela Guo, who was first identified as Alice’s sister, were arrested by Indonesian officials last August 22 and were brought back to the country on the same day. Ong was detained at the House for being cited for contempt last August 16 after skipping the quad committee hearings.