Katherine Cassandra Ong, an incorporator of Whirlwind Company, takes her oath after being offered earlier than the Home of Representatives quad-committee to listen to her facet concerning points surrounding the Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub in Porac, Pampanga. Whirlwind solely leased land to Pogo hub operator Fortunate South 99, however a number of lawmakers imagine that Ong is presumably concerned in each firms. Photograph from the Home of Representatives media bureau
MANILA, Philippines — Whirlwind Company stakeholder Katherine Cassandra Li Ong requested for recommendation and expressed her fears throughout their dialog earlier than the quad-committee hearings, Santa Rosa Metropolis Rep. Dan Fernandez mentioned on Friday.
Fernandez, in a web-based interview with reporters protecting the Home of Representatives, mentioned that Ong known as him up when she was required to attend the joint listening to of the committee on video games and amusements and the committee on public order and security concerning Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hubs.
The general public order and security panel that Fernandez heads finally was named as one of many 4 parts of the quad-committee.
“It was her who reached out. I used to be really shocked when she texted, as I didn’t know the way she acquired my quantity. However I didn’t hassle asking her due to course all of us, we have no idea who has our contact particulars. So I simply determined that perhaps a standard good friend or one thing like that gave it,” Fernandez mentioned.
“Sure,” Fernandez mentioned when requested if Ong was looking for recommendation. “As a result of she appeared, I feel she was actually scared. Then she mentioned, ‘Cong, how are you going to assist me?’ So I nonetheless keep in mind telling her, ‘You recognize, for us that will help you, attend the hearings, be truthful, inform every thing you realize, and who is aware of, the entire authorities will assist you to.”
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In accordance with Fernandez, the quad-committee made a softer stance towards Ong, withdrawing the second contempt order that might have had Ong detained on the Correctional Institute for Ladies in Mandaluyong Metropolis.
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“Though I feel the cheque and financial institution accounts she holds had been solely named after her, however she just isn’t the one issuing it. Possibly that’s what she did to Ronelyn Baterna too, that after Ronelyn Baterna indicators on the cheque, she would give it to Cassie (Ong),” Fernandez mentioned. “Most definitely that’s what she did, issuing it, then after signing the cheque, she would not place her identify there.”
“As a result of that’s two issues, she could also be mendacity or telling the reality, or she is balancing what she will cut price with the federal government. These are the issues that we’ve got to steadiness; that’s why we grew to become softer in direction of her as a result of instantly she was cooperative. But when she wasn’t, she would have been jailed already in Mandaluyong,” he famous.
Throughout a lighter a part of the grueling 13-hour quad committee listening to final Wednesday, Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop teased Ong for supposedly having preferential therapy in direction of dashing lawmakers.
Acop expressed confusion as to why Ong refused to reply questions from Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro however responded instantly to 1-Rider party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez and Santa Rosa Metropolis Rep. Dan Fernandez.
In response, Ong mentioned she actually didn’t need to give solutions, however the recommendation of her lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, to reply to the queries simply coincided with the 2 lawmakers talked about.
Earlier than this alternate, Acop additionally requested Ong if she was in a position to talk about points with Fernandez forward of the quad-committee listening to, saying that it appears the latter is aware of greater than the remainder of the panel’s members.
Ong mentioned that she exchanged messages and even had a cellphone name with Fernandez.
“As soon as solely […] Textual content and cellphone name, as soon as lang po,” Ong admitted.
Ong initially refused to reply questions from lawmakers, saying that she was invoking her proper towards self-incrimination. Finally, Ong modified her solutions, replying with a extra direct “I refuse to testify,” prompting Manila sixth District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. to make the movement.
READ: Home quad-panel cites Cassandra Ong for contempt anew
However Ong’s tone modified, as she began to reply questions throughout Gutierrez’ flip to interpellate. Gutierrez — who was one of many few lawmakers who acquired Vice President Sara Duterte to talk in the course of the deliberations for the Workplace of the Vice President (OVP) proposed finances for 2025 — managed to get affirmation that Ong labored for each Whirlwind Company and Fortunate South 99.
Whirlwind Company, the place Ong holds a 58 % stake, is the corporate that leased land in Porac, Pampanga, to Fortunate South 99, which then arrange a Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub.
There have been hunches from lawmakers that Whirlwind and Fortunate South 99 had been interconnected — a perception that was confirmed when Ong answered Gutierrez’s queries.
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READ: After VP Duterte, Rep. Gutierrez additionally will get Cassandra Ong to talk
