Cassandra Li Ong still in Philippines – Palace

MANILA, Philippines — Cassandra Li Ong, who is facing a human trafficking charge before the Pasig court, is currently in the Philippines, according to Palace Press Officer Claire Castro.

She said this at a Palace briefing, citing information from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“Actually, we asked for a response from the DILG, and they said that, currently, based on their records, Ms. Cassandra Ong is still in the Philippines, and the search for her is still ongoing because she is a fugitive because there is an arrest warrant,” she said when asked for Ong’s whereabouts.

READ: DOJ: P1 M reward for arrest of Cassandra Ong

Castro also urged the public to help locate Ong.

“Whoever among our fellow citizens may see Cassandra Ong, please immediately report it to our law enforcement agencies,” she said.

However, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said in late November that the latest information on Ong’s whereabouts placed her in Japan, although there are no records showing she left the country.

READ: Cassandra Ong has been out of contact ‘for some time’ – Topacio

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is also offering a P1-million reward for any information leading to her arrest.

Reporters are still seeking clarification from the DOJ on Ong’s location as of posting time. /dl