No arrest warrant when Cassy Ong left PH — PAOCC spox

Dr. Winston John Casio of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on Saturday revealed that their last successful tracking of Cassandra Li Ong was in Japan during the first quarter of the year.

Cassy Li Ong is the documented representative of the controversial Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) Lucky South 99. On Friday, Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian announced that Cassy was released from the Correctional Institution for Women.

“The last movement that we personally tracked is Japan. This is the last movement that we tracked on Cassy Ong. After that, we have no more idea where she went,” Casio said.

Casio highlighted that Cassy Ong was in the Women’s Correctional Facility on the basis of a contempt order issued by the Quad Comm. However, when the lifespan of the 19th Congress ended, the effectiveness of the contempt order was also lifted.

“When the lifespan of the 19th Congress ended, a person cannot remain imprisoned because the power and life of that Congress that issued the contempt order and commitment order is already dead,” Casio explained in a mix of Filipino and English.

"It is duty-bound to release her; otherwise, they may in turn be charged with arbitrary detention or other violations of Cassy Ong’s rights," he added.

According to Casio, it was around December when the Quad Comm released her. At that time, there was no arrest warrant issued against Cassy Ong. However, he stated that they are still following Ong’s tracks under the Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO).

The PAOCC spokesperson explained that an ILBO is “simply” a watchlist and cannot be used to prevent an individual from traveling. Casio explained that if an individual subject to an ILBO presents themselves at any immigration checkpoint, the officer is duty-bound to notify the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The immigration officer will verify with the DOJ if there is an arrest warrant or hold departure order expected against the person. If there is none, departure can be allowed.

“If there is none, she or he can go. During that time, there really was none—only an ILBO,” Casio said in a mix of English and Filipino.

According to Casio, the case of Alice Guo leaving the country differs from Cassy Ong’s case because Guo was under a contempt order at the time.

“The contempt order prevented Alice Guo from leaving the country. Thankfully, napakabilis po ng paglabas ng resolution ng panels of prosecutors ng DOJ, a reason why a warrant of arrest was released quickly against her,” Casio explained.
("The resolution from the DOJ prosecutor panels was released very quickly, which is why a warrant of arrest was promptly issued against her.")

Casio admitted that government agencies are facing difficulties tracking Cassy Ong.

“The government is having a hard time tracking where Cassandra Li Ong is now,” he said.

"But the PNP-CIDG has new leadership, the NBI has new leadership, Congress has new leadership, and the PNP does too. So we will talk about why Congress is important here, because they were the ones who had custody of Katherine Cassandra Li Ong," he explained.