MANILA — The House of Representatives issued on Thursday an order to take into its custody Cassandra Li Ong, who was cited in contempt for snubbing the House panel hearings into illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations.

The lower house also ordered that Ong be detained at the House of Representatives in Quezon City for 30 days.

“In view of the attached Contempt Order issued by the Joint Committee composed of the Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order & Safety, Human Rights, and Public Accounts on 16 August 2024 against KATHERINE CASSANDRA LI ONG and pursuant to the authority of the Speaker, under Rule IV, Section 15 (j) to sign all acts, resolution, memorials, writs, warrants and subpoena, you are hereby ordered to TAKE INTO CUSTODY and DETAIN KATHERINE CASSANDRA LI ONG for contempt of the House of Representatives for a period of thirty (30) calendar days at the House of Representatives, Quezon City,” the order issued to law enforcers and the House Sergeant-at-Arms stated.

Cassandra Li Ong, the representative of a company that provides services to POGOs like Lucky South 99, was taken into custody by authorities in Indonesia, according to House Committee on Public Order and Safety Chairperson Rep. Dan Fernandez.

Ong and Sheila Guo, the sister of Alice Guo, were deported to the Philippines on Thursday afternoon. They arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at around 5 p.m.