Cassandra Ong could still face detention if new arrest warrants are issued against her. Meanwhile, the contempt charge against Harry Roque is still in place.
The Philippine House of Representatives Quad Committee has ordered the release of Cassandra Ong, a 24-year-old worker linked to a controversial Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga. Ong, who had been detained for almost four months on a contempt charge, was freed after the committee lifted the charge during its final hearing of the year on December 12, 2024.
Documents reveal that Ong served as a representative for the POGO licensee in Porac and was listed as an incorporator of Whirlwind Corp. She has also been described as a middle manager in the organization.
Ong remains a central figure in the ongoing investigation into the POGO operations in Porac, Pampanga, and a similar scam hub in Bamban, Tarlac. These locations have been connected to the dismissed mayor Alice Guo, a key figure in the alleged illicit activities.
Despite the allegations, Ong has repeatedly denied any involvement in illegal activities, maintaining that she was not a “dummy” for the operations, as some reports had suggested.
Ong has been tagged as an alleged accomplice of Alice Guo. Notably, Ong's boyfriend happens to be Guo's brother.
Quad Committee chairperson Representative Ace Barbers confirmed the decision in a statement to reporters, explaining that the contempt charge against Ong was no longer necessary.
"I just signed earlier an order addressed to the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) to release her, so maybe tomorrow [December 13] she will be freed," Barbers said shortly after the committee meeting concluded at around 10 p.m.
Ong’s legal team had previously argued that her detention was causing significant harm to her mental health. She had been held at the CIW, a facility designed for convicted women, since late September. The committee’s decision to lift the charge comes after Ong’s request for release, citing the toll her incarceration was taking on her mental wellbeing.
Barbers, however, stated that the committee had already gathered enough information from Ong’s testimony to proceed with their investigation. "Wala na kaming makukuhang iba pang information (We can no longer extract more information from her), and what she has said before the committee is sufficient enough for us to write our committee report," he remarked. With this, the committee will now focus on compiling its findings and preparing a report for submission.
Despite her release, Ong still faces multiple serious charges, including human trafficking and money laundering. These complaints remain pending before prosecutors. As of now, the charges have not resulted in formal arrests, meaning Ong’s release is contingent upon further legal developments. If the charges proceed, she could still face detention if new arrest warrants are issued.
Harry Roque Contempt Charge Still in Place
One of the more high-profile figures still facing contempt charges is Harry Roque, former spokesperson for President Rodrigo Duterte. Roque, who has been linked to the Porac POGO operations, failed to appear before the committee and is said to be abroad. The committee has confirmed that Roque submitted his counter-affidavit from the United Arab Emirates but has not yet been released from contempt.
Barbers confirmed that the contempt charge against Roque would remain in place until the committee’s hearings conclude, which are scheduled to resume in mid-January.
Roque is facing similar charges related to human trafficking and money laundering, stemming from his alleged role in helping Ong arrange meetings with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to renew the POGO license in Porac.
Barbers also mentioned that the committee was vetting a new witness who could provide fresh information on the POGO network. "It’s an entirely new information, so we’re trying to assess and probably a witness will come out," he revealed, though he declined to provide further details.
The case involving Ong and the broader POGO network has drawn significant public attention, particularly due to the involvement of high-profile figures and the serious criminal charges being leveled against them. The investigation is part of a larger effort by the government to crack down on illegal activities within the POGO industry, which has been linked to human trafficking, money laundering, and other criminal enterprises.
Ong’s initial detention was controversial. She was first cited in contempt by the House Quad Committee in August. A second contempt order was issued in September when she refused to cooperate during the committee’s questioning. Prior to her detention at CIW, Ong had been held at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after she was intercepted in Indonesia.
Ong's lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, argued that her initial detention was illegal, asserting that she had left the country legally, and no contempt charge had been filed at that time.
Read related article: Contempt Orders vs. Cassie Ong, Alice Guo, Tony Yang Lifted
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