Cassandra Ong is now at large – DOJ

MANILA, Philippines – Cassandra Ong, Alice Guo’s alleged business associate, is now at large, the Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed on Friday. 

At the Senate’s plenary deliberations on the proposed 2026 budget of the DOJ, Sen. Risa Hontiveros asked if Ong remains under detention at present. 

But DOJ budget sponsor Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, speaking on behalf of the agency, said Ong was already released in detention. This, in return, left Hontiveros puzzled and shocked. 

READ: CA junks Cassandra Ong petition to void trafficking charge

“Actually nagulat din ako. Pareho tayong nagulat kasi tinututukan natin tong case,” said Gatchalian who then detailed that Ong, at that time, was detained in the House of Representatives. 

(Actually I was also shocked. Both of us were shocked because we monitored this case closely)

“Nadetain siya sa House and then because of the transition from the 19th congress to the 20th Congress pinalabas siya sa detention. At that point wala pang kaso. So ngayon meron ng kaso — the same qualified human trafficking. Unfortunately because nung nakalabas siya saka lang nafile yung kaso at large siya ngayon,” Gatchalian added. 

(She was detained in the House and then because of the transition from the 19th congress to the 20th congress, she was released in detention. At that point, there was still no case. Now, there’s already a case and that’s qualified human trafficking. Unfortunately, because she was released and then the case was filed late, she’s at large now)

READ: Cassandra Ong’s lawyer files ethics rap vs Rep. Fernandez

Gatchalian said the authorities are now after Ong, adding that the Bureau of Immigration is now verifying if she had already left the country or not. 

“But automatic naman po yung hold departure order, so pinapaverify lang po kung nakawala na. Ang kinakatakutan lang natin baka rin yung the same sa backdoor, you remember kay Alice Guo. But ngayon po meron ng warrant of arrest at hinahabol na ho siya ng ating kapulisan at enforcement agencies,” said Gatchalian. 

(But the hold departure order is automatic, so we’re verifying if she is really missing. What we’re fearing is that she might also use the same backdoor route similar to Alice Guo. But right now, there’s already a warrant of arrest and the authorities and enforcement agencies are after her)

On May 8, the Angeles City Regional Trial Court Branch 118  issued a warrant of arrest against Cassandra Ong and former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque among several others amid their alleged involvement in the operations of an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator  in Pampanga. /dl