MANILA, Philippines — Cassandra Li Ong, the business partner of former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, could possibly face charges for harboring a fugitive, according to her legal counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio.
In an ambush interview at the National Bureau of Investigation on Friday, shortly after the inquest proceedings for Ong and Shiela Guo concluded, Topacio mentioned that charges of obstruction of justice and harboring a fugitive are being considered against Ong.
READ: Topacio on NBI taking custody of Cassandra Ong: This is wrong
However, he emphasized that much remains unclear about the harboring of a fugitive case.
“Maraming dapat iklaro dito sa kasong ito kasi puro fake news ang mga pinapakalat katulad…lalong-lalo na po si Senator Risa Hontiveros. Alam niyo sa sampung sinabi ni Senator Risa, labing-isa ang mali eh,” Topacio said.
(A lot needs to be clarified in this case because a lot of fake news is being spread, especially by Senator Risa Hontiveros. You know, out of the ten things Senator Risa said, eleven of them are wrong.)
“Unang-una, sinasabi nila pumuslit at ilegal daw na umalis sa bansa si Ms. Cassandra Li Ong, hindi po totoo ‘yun. Bakit ilegal? May passport po si Cassandra Li Ong, siya po ay walang hold departure order ng kahit anong korte, wala pong legal impediment para siya ay makaalis ng bansa. The right to travel is a constitutionally protected right,” he added.
(First of all, they are saying that Ms. Cassandra Li Ong sneaked out of the country illegally. That’s not true. Why would it be illegal? Cassandra Li Ong has a passport, she does not have a hold departure order from any court, and there is no legal impediment preventing her from leaving the country. The right to travel is a constitutionally protected right.)
READ: Topacio is legal counsel of Alice Guo’s cohort Cassandra Ong
Topacio further said that the inquest proceedings are just the beginning of the investigation into the issues surrounding Ong and Guo.
“‘Yung inquest, pag-amin na po ‘yung ng DOJ [Department of Justice] na walang kaso. Kasi kapag in-inquest ka, inuumpisahan palang magsampa ng kaso laban sayo. Ibig sabihin walang kaso, therefore walang warrant,” Topacio explained.
(The inquest is an admission by the DOJ that there is no case. Because when you’re subjected to an inquest, it means they are just starting to file a case against you. This means there is no case, and therefore, no warrant.)
“After it is resolved and probable cause is found, tska palang magkakaroon ng kaso, dapat doon lang po magkaroon ng warrant (only then should a case be filed, and only at that point should a warrant be issued),” he added.
Justice Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Mico Clavaro told reporters on Thursday that Ong may be charged with obstruction of justice and violation of the Philippine Passport Act.
Guo, on the other hand, will face charges for violations of immigration law.