Cassandra Ong tracked in Japan — PAOCC

A key personality in the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) scandal, Cassandra Li Ong, had left the country following her release from detention, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) confirmed on Saturday.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian revealed that Ong had been released from the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City and was now considered “at large.”

Ong was the representative of POGO Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga.

PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio said Ong was believed to have traveled to Japan.

“She was last tracked in Japan… I am pretty certain it was the first quarter of this year,” he said, adding that her departure appeared to have taken place around January.

Casio noted that an Interpol red notice has been issued for Ong, who is the subject of an active arrest warrant issued by the Pampanga Regional Trial Court in May for qualified human trafficking in connection with the alleged scam hub operations of Lucky South 99. Authorities have yet to determine her movements after Japan.

“Our last tracked movement of hers was in Japan… after that we have no idea where she went,” he said.

The PAOCC, along with the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the National Bureau of Investigation, is continuing efforts to track down Ong and bring her back to the Philippines.

ILBO issued but no case filed

Casio explained that an International Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) was issued against Ong, but the absence of a filed case at that time allowed her to leave the country.

“An ILBO is simply a watchlist. If the subject presents herself before any immigration counter, officers must call the DoJ to confirm if there is a warrant of arrest. If there is none, she or he can go,” he said.

According to Casio, Ong may have been released after the 19th Congress adjourned sine die, as her detention stemmed from the Quad Committee’s contempt order.

“When the 19th Congress ended, she could no longer be detained because Congress’ authority to cite her in contempt also ended,” he explained.

“They were duty-bound to release her; otherwise, they could be charged with arbitrary detention or violating Ong’s rights. There was no arrest warrant yet at that time — it was sometime in December when the Quadcom released her,” he added.