DOJ offers P1-million bounty for arrest of Cassandra Ong

A P1-million reward has been offered by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for information that will lead to the location and arrest of businesswoman Cassandra Li Ong, who is now the subject of an arrest warrant on qualified human trafficking charges linked to alleged illegal activities of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO).

The DOJ also confirmed that former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has been officially declared a fugitive from justice.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, DOJ acting secretary Frederrick Vida admitted that authorities are having “difficulty locating” Ong and have begun “crowdsourcing” information from the public.

The bounty was announced after the Pasig City Regional Trial Court ordered the cancellation of Ong’s passport, along with several others, to prevent them from evading authorities.

“The DOJ is formally announcing that is offering P1 million reward for credible and actionable information that will directly lead to the lawful discovery, location, and subsequent arrest by authorized law enforcement agent of Cassandra Ong, who is presently the subject of an ongoing criminal proceedings before the regional trial court of Pasig City,” Vida said.

He defended the financial incentive, stressing that it is needed to compel Ong to face the charges. “This so they can be brought to court for the case to move against Ms. Ong,” he added.

The Pasig City RTC also authorized the cancellation of the passports of Roque and other individuals implicated in the qualified human trafficking case tied to the POGO firm Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga.

Among those whose passports were invalidated were Dennis Cunanan, former head of the defunct Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC); Ronalyn Baterna, documented corporate secretary of Lucky South 99; and Mercides Macabas, the firm’s security compliance officer.

Roque reportedly left the country after being implicated in the case and is currently seeking asylum in The Hague, Netherlands.