Cassandra Ong: Top boss at Whirlwind an ex-Chinese cop

Katherine Cassandra Li Ong, an incorporator of Whirlwind Corporation, was presented before the House of Representatives’ quad-committee to hear her side regarding issues surrounding the Philippine offshore gaming operator hub in Porac, Pampanga. (Photo from the House of Representatives media bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — Whirlwind Corporation stakeholder Katherine Cassandra Li Ong has admitted that the top boss at the firm, a certain Duanren Wu who happens to be her godfather, is a former Chinese cop.

Ong revealed this during the House quad-committee on Wednesday.

“What is his business in China, do you know?” House committee on dangerous drugs chairperson Robert Ace Barbers asked.

“I don’t have an idea,” Ong replied. “What I know is that he worked for a government agency [in China] before, and then he resigned.”

“Then he ventured into business? So he was a former employee of the Chinese government, right?” Barbers asked.

“Yes. He was a simple police officer, but again, he resigned,” Ong said.

Barbers then bared that this is the same information that they got about Wu.

“You (Ong) are correct because it’s the same information that we got, he was a former police officer. In fact, he has several records. Do you know that he has several records when he was a police officer?” Barbers asked.

“What record?” Ong said.

“It’s about him having so many negative records in China. I will tell you about this at the appropriate time,” Barbers replied.

Whirlwind Corporation leased land in Porac, Pampanga to Lucky South 99, which then operated a Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub in the area.

Ong has a 58 percent stake in Whirlwind Corporation. Lawmakers believe Ong’s testimony is crucial because it will establish that Whirlwind and Lucky South 99 are the same company.

The Porac Pogo hub was raided last June 4 due to human trafficking concerns. At least 186 foreign and Filipino workers were rescued from the facility.

READ: Pampanga Pogo linked to scams, trafficking; 186 rescued in raid 

Authorities also found Chinese military uniforms in the Pogo hub, but the uniforms were mere souvenirs or props used by foreign workers, according to Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Maj. Gen. Leo Francsico.

READ: Suspected Chinese military gear found in Pogo raid raises security concerns

READ: Chinese military uniforms in Pogo raid appear to be ‘souvenirs’ – CIDG chief

The second half of the quad-committee hearing focused on the illegal activities related to Pogos.

Ong has been detained at the House premises since Aug. 26 having been cited for contempt by four panels.

Ong was cited for contempt again during the quad-committee’s hearing last Aug. 28, after she refused to answer questions raised by lawmakers. But after Ong cooperated, the contempt order, which would have sent her to the Correctional Institute for Women was lifted, provided that she signed a bank secrecy waiver.

However, Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez said Ong had backed out from a previous commitment to sign a bank secrecy waiver and would also no longer avail of an executive session to spill information on Pogos.

READ: Contempt order vs Ong lifted after answering solons’ queries