Cassandra Li Ong offered immunity, cited in contempt

The quad committee of the House of Representatives is eyeing Katherine Cassandra Li Ong, an incorporator of Whirlwind Corp., as a state witness in the panel's ongoing probe on Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) activities in Porac, Pampanga.

- SHEILA CRISOSTOMO

Whirlwind Corp. had leased a land to Lucky South 99, where Ong is a consultant. Police raided the POGO in June for various violations.

According to committee co-chair and dangerous drugs panel head Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, the panel discussed and agreed that the involvement of Ong in Lucky South 99 is "deep."

Ong testified in Wednesday's hearing of quad committee on POGO but she refused to answer most of the questions raised by lawmakers.

She told the panel that her involvement was mostly on the real estate business of Whirlwind which rents out office spaces for POGO hubs, including Lucky South 99.

Ong admitted that she is in a relationship with Wesley Guo, the brother of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo and Shiela Guo.

Ong said she went to Singapore and then to Malaysia to meet her boyfriend and his siblings. She joined the Guo siblings then traveled to Batam, Indonesia, where she and Shiela were accosted by authorities and deported to the Philippines.

Committee chair and public safety and order panel head Rep. Dan Fernandez tried to offer Ong to speak in an executive session but she said she would consult her lawyers.

Fernandez also offered "immunity" to Ong but she again said she would seek legal counsel.

"What we're trying to offer to you is something that you have really to think over. Because we talked about this earlier, you are really young to be jailed. This will have no bail. This means, once they filed it, then you cannot go out of jail. I hope you take this chance," he added.

Lawmakers tried to dig deeper, but Ong clammed up.