Ong appears at House quad-comm probe but refuses to answer questions

Katherine Cassandra Ong, an incorporator of Whirlwind Corporation, takes her oath after being presented before the House of Representatives’ quad-committee to hear her side regarding issues surrounding the Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub in Porac, Pampanga. Whirlwind only leased land to Pogo hub operator Lucky South 99, but several lawmakers believe that Ong is possibly involved in both companies. Photo from the House of Representatives media bureau

MANILA, Philippines — Whirlwind Corporation stakeholder Katherine Cassandra Li Ong, who is being linked to the raided Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub in Porac, Pampanga, was brought out for the House of Representatives’ quad-committee hearing on Wednesday.

During the second part of the hearing, Ong was being asked initial questions that were not yet related to the Lucky South 99 Pogo hub — like regarding her citizenship.  However, Ong chose not to answer those questions, invoking her right against self-incrimination.

Lawmakers, however, noted that the questions were not in any way incriminating.

Katherine Cassandra Ong, an incorporator of Whirlwind Corporation, was presented before the House of Representatives’ quad-committee but refuses to answer questions from lawmakers. Photo from the House of Representatives media bureau

Ong is said to hold a 58 percent stake at Whirlwind, which leased land to Lucky South 99 in Porac.  However, lawmakers believe Ong is also part of Lucky South 99, after several resource persons have testified to her involvement.

At least 186 foreign and Filipino workers were rescued from that Porac Pogo hub, which was raided last June 4 over human trafficking concerns.

Ong was detained at the House last Monday, after she and Shiela Guo — alleged sister of dismissed Bamban town mayor Alice Guo — were arrested in Indonesia and deported back to the Philippines.

READ: Cassandra Ong now detained at House premises – Barbers 

The Department of Justice (DOJ) believes the arrest of the Ong and Shiela Guo in Indonesia only proves links between the Pogos in Bamban and Porac.

The Bamban Pogo hub which was also raided, meanwhile, was linked to former mayor Guo as her former company, Baofu Land Development Inc., leased land to Pogo hub operator Zun Yuan.

Alice Guo claims to have divested ownership of Baofu, but the Department of the Interior and Local Government believes the amount she divested it for—P2.5 million—was “grossly incongruent to her investment on Baufo which is approximately eight hectares of land.”

Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. said last Friday that Ong will be a key witness since she can shed light on several issues, including former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s possible involvement in Pogos.

Roque has denied several times that he is involved in Pogos, but his bank documents and that of his former executive assistant, Alberto Rodulfo “AR” De La Serna, were found in Lucky South 99 Pogo hub during its raid.