Image Source GMANews

Cassandra Li Ong Misses Senate Probe on Tarlac Mayor Guo’s Escape

September 6, 2024 Philippines Crime & Legal

Cassandra Li Ong was absent from the Senate’s investigation on Thursday regarding the alleged escape of former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.

This followed a letter sent by the House of Representatives on September 4 to the Senate subcommittee on justice and human rights. The letter confirmed that while Ong had been approved to testify at the Senate’s request, she was “currently unwell and unable to attend,” in a report published by GMA News.

“During our own public hearing today (September 4), Ms. Ong’s blood sugar and blood pressure dropped significantly, prompting the Joint Committee to suspend the hearing and excuse her from testifying, based on the advice of medical doctors present at the session,” stated the letter from the House’s joint committees.

The House’s medical team further advised that Ong might require hospitalization and 2 to 3 days of stabilization to recover.

In the previous week’s hearing, senators had requested Ong’s appearance to testify on the alleged escape of Guo, which the House of Representatives agreed to. The House’s four committees are also jointly investigating crimes linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

Ong serves as the authorized representative of a POGO company raided in Porac, Pampanga. She is also known to be the girlfriend of Wesley Guo, believed to be Alice Guo’s brother.

Both Ong and Shiela, who is allegedly Alice Guo’s sister, were intercepted by Indonesian authorities and returned to the Philippines on August 22. While Shiela is currently detained at the Senate, Ong remains in the custody of the House of Representatives.