Ong now detained at Correctional, but still under House jurisdiction

Katherine Cassandra Ong, incorporator of Whirlwind Corp., attends the hearing of the Senate committee on women in this file photo taken on September 24 2024. INQUIRER.net / NOY MORCOSO

MANILA, Philippines — Whirlwind Corporation stakeholder Katherine Cassandra Ong has been transferred to the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW), House of Representatives Secretary General Reginald Velasco said.

Velasco in a statement sent to reporters on Thursday said that Ong was transferred on Wednesday to the CIW, but the House still retains jurisdiction of the said resource person.

“Yesterday pa nalipat na siya sa Correctional.  She remains under HRep’s jurisdiction,” Velasco said.

Last September 19, during the sixth quad-committee hearing, lawmakers approved a motion to cite Ong for contempt, as she continued to give evasive answers to specific questions like her educational background.

This was the third contempt order issued against Ong, with the second one being withdrawn after she cooperated with the House.  The first contempt order, meanwhile, was handed down after Ong skipped the quad-committee hearings.

READ: Contempt order vs Ong lifted after answering solons’ queries 

After the said ruling, lawmakers decided that she would be detained at the CIW after the detention period for the first contempt order lapses.

The first contempt order was supposed to end on Thursday, September 26.

Lawmakers believe Ong is an important resource person for the probe on the Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub in Porac, Pampanga, as it was previously established that she worked for both Whirlwind and Lucky South 99.

Whirlwind, where Ong holds a 58 percent share, leased land in Porac to Lucky South 99.  Lucky South 99 meanwhile operated their Pogo in the said area.

READ: Cassandra Ong: Top boss at Whirlwind an ex-Chinese cop 

However, there are claims that both companies operate as one firm.

Aside from these testimonies, Ong admitted last September 4 that Whirlwind’s top boss, a certain Duanren Wu who happens to be her godfather, is a former Chinese cop.