Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Cassandra Ong attends the hearing called by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17637101995691763710196575.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Dismissed mayor Alice Guo — also known as Guo Hua Ping — may have been convicted, but Cassandra Li Ong of shuttered Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator Lucky South 99 has been freed from detention and is at large. </p><p>This was revealed during Sen. Risa Hontiveros&#x27; interpellation of the Department of Justice&#x27;s 2026 budget at plenary deliberations at the Senate on Friday.</p><p>Senate Finance Committee Chair Sherwin Gatchalian, who spoke for the DOJ since only senators are allowed to speak during plenary sessions, said Ong had been released when the 19th Congress ended.</p><p>&quot;Na-detain ho siya sa House. And then because of the transition from the 19th Congress to the 20th Congress, pinalabas siya sa detention. At that point, wala pang kaso,&quot; he said.</p><p>(She was detained by the House and she was released in the transition from the 19th Congress to the 20th Congress. At that point, there was no case against her)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/2/court-of-appeals-junks-cassandra-ongs-petition-vs-human-trafficking-raps-1613"><strong>Court of Appeals junks Cassandra Ong’s petition vs human trafficking raps</strong></a></div><p>Gatchalian said Ong now faces a qualified human trafficking case.</p><p>&quot;Unfortunately, because nung nakalabas siya saka lang na-file yung kaso, at-large siya ngayon,&quot; he said.</p><p>(Unfortunately, since the case was only filed after she was released, she is now at large)</p><p>Police are already looking for Ong and the Bureau of Immigration is verifying whether she has left the country, the senator addeed.</p><p>Since a warrant has been issued for Ong&#x27;s arrest, a hold-departure order is also already in place to keep her going abroad.</p><p>Gatchalian added proceedings are underway to cancel Ong&#x27;s passport.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/11/5/pnp-submits-more-evidence-vs-cassandra-ong-on-porac-pogo-case-1316"><strong>PNP submits more evidence vs Cassandra Ong on Porac POGO case<br/></strong></a></div><p>He added there is no BI record of Ong&#x27;s departure frm the country, but Hontiveros said she could <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/7/alice-guo-s-great-escape-began-on-small-boats-ends-in-private-jet-after-indonesia-arrest-1724">do an &quot;Alice Guo Part Two&quot; and escape through the southern backdoor.</a></p><p>&quot;Hanggang ngayon ‘di pa natin alam yung yung buong kuwento pano nakatakas si Alice Guo noon, pero at least nangyari na yung kahapon,&quot; she said, referring to Guo&#x27;s conviction for qualified human trafficking.</p><p>(Until now, we don&#x27;t know the full story of how Alice Guo evaded authorities, but at least yesterday happened) <strong>— RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News</strong></p>

<p>"Unfortunately, because nung nakalabas siya saka lang na-file yung kaso, at-large siya ngayon," Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said.</p>

"Unfortunately, because nung nakalabas siya saka lang na-file yung kaso, at-large siya ngayon," Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said.

Lucky South 99's Cassandra Ong freed during Congress break, now at large

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Lucky South 99's Cassandra Ong freed during Congress break, now at large

ABS-CBN News

Published November 21, 2025 03:38 PM PHT

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Cassandra Li Ong

Lucky South 99

Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator

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