Chinese Nationals Accuse Cassandra Li Ong, 53 Others of Involvement in Human Trafficking

September 11, 2024 Philippines Crime & Legal

Ten Chinese nationals have filed a complaint against Cassandra Li Ong, Lucky South 99, and 53 others, accusing them of human trafficking and forced labor. The complaint alleges that the victims were kidnapped, held against their will, and coerced into working for Lucky South 99, an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) based in Porac, Pampanga. This follows a raid in June that uncovered the alleged exploitation.

According to the complaint submitted to the Department of Justice on September 10, 2024, the Chinese nationals were forced to work in the illegal POGO operation after being trafficked to settle casino debts.

“One of the Chinese nationals was lent P450,000 and gambled for three nights playing mahjong. When he couldn’t repay the debt, he was taken directly to Lucky South,” Prosecutor Ramoncito Ocampo was quoted as saying in a report published by the Inquirer.

Prosecutor James Escalona detailed the trafficking scheme, noting that victims were promised freedom upon settling their debts but were often sold to other POGOs instead. The victims were allegedly forced to work 15 to 18 hours a day running online or mobile phone scams. Failure to comply reportedly led to severe torture, and attempts to escape were met with brutal consequences.

If you don’t do the work … you will be tortured. If you try to escape and get caught, you will be miserable,” Escalona said.

Lucky South 99 was raided on June 4, resulting in its closure due to suspected involvement in torture, human trafficking, and illegal scamming activities. The key figures in the case include Ong, Ronelyn Baterna (corporate secretary), Dennis Cunanan (communications and government relations head), Duanren Wu (top boss of Whirlwind Corp., which leased land to Lucky South 99), and Zhang Jie (president of Lucky South 99).

Zhang, a Singaporean, was involved in aiding former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo in booking a hotel in Batam, Indonesia, when she fled the Philippines. This connection suggests an intricate network between POGOs in Bamban and Porac. Ong, a major shareholder in Whirlwind and the girlfriend of Guo’s brother Wesley, was arrested and deported from Indonesia in August.

The complaint also implicates several individuals accused of trafficking Chinese nationals to the POGO and bodyguards who allegedly tortured escapees. Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty, leading the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, emphasized that prosecutors reject Ong’s defense of not being involved in POGO operations. He cited the principle of “piercing the veil of corporate fiction,” which allows for holding individuals personally accountable for corporate crimes.

The prosecution plans to file criminal and civil forfeiture charges to seize assets linked to human trafficking activities. Ty stressed that Lucky South 99 and Whirlwind Corp. are seen as a criminal enterprise, not merely legitimate businesses.