Cassandra Ong human trafficking hearing moved to Nov. 18

Katherine Cassandra Ong, incorporator of Whirlwind Corp., attends the hearing of the Senate committee on women on Tuesday, September 24 2024. Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) preliminary investigation into Cassandra Li Ong’s human trafficking case has been rescheduled to Nov. 18.

Originally set for today (Nov. 5), the investigation would have allowed Ong’s counsel to submit their counter-affidavits.

“But the PNP-CIDG (Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) apparently had supplemental complaints to submit,” Ong’s legal counsel Raphael Andrada told reporters in a chance interview on Tuesday.

READ: Cassandra Ong, 51 others charged with qualified human trafficking

“Unfortunately, today, the witnesses in the supplemental complaint of the PNP-CIDG were not present, so instead, the honorable panel of prosecutors reset the submission of this supplemental complaint to Nov. 18,” he added.

When asked if Ong’s camp would be submitting their counter-affidavits by then, Andrada responded in the negative, explaining  that they would still have to study the PNP-CIDG’s supplemental complaint.

“So most likely we’ll be submitting the counter on the next set hearing [after Nov. 18],” he said.

READ: Human trafficking raps filed vs. Harry Roque, 2 others

Ong is currently detained at the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City and faces qualified human trafficking charges, along with 51 other individuals, for their alleged involvement in the operation of the Lucky South 99 scam farm in Porac, Pampanga.

On Oct, 28, the PNP-CIDG and the Presidential Anti Organized Crime Commission submitted a supplemental complaint before the DOJ to add former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and two others to the list of respondents in the human trafficking charge.