The Philippine National Police on Sunday vowed to step up coordination with international law enforcement authorities to locate and arrest Cassandra Li Ong, a documented representative of controversial Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) Lucky South 99.
“The PNP will do everything to bring her back to the country so she could face the charges against her,” acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement on Sunday.
During a forum on Saturday, Dr. Winston John Casio of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) revealed that their last successful track of Cassandra Li Ong was in Japan during the first quarter of the year.
According to Casio, it was around December when Quad Comm released her, but at that time, there was no arrest warrant issued yet against Ong.
The PAOCC spokesperson explained that they are following the tracks of Ong under the Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) but have no leverage to stop her from leaving the country because an ILBO only serves as a watchlist if there is no arrest warrant or hold departure order.
In May, the Pampanga Regional Trial Court issued an active warrant of arrest for Ong for qualified human trafficking in connection with the alleged illegal operations of the Porac, Pampanga-based Lucky South 99, around five months after she supposedly went to Japan in January.
Ong was initially detained in the Women’s Correctional Facility on the basis of a contempt order of the 19th Congress of 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 maybe they in turn will be charged with arbitrary detention or other charges related to violation of rights of Cassy Ong,” he added.
According to the acting PNP chief, they are now working with foreign enforcement agencies to locate Ong and bring her back to face her charges. Nartatez said they will be closely working with the International Criminal Police Organization following the issuance of a Red Notice for Ong.
“The PNP is committed to delivering justice to the victims of illegal POGO hubs,” he said. “Those involved in these illegal operations must face the consequences of their actions.”