Camille Naredo

Cassandra Li Ong appears before the House of Representatives House quad committee investigating alleged extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration, the crimes linked to illegal drugs, as well as in POGOs at the House of Representatives on August 28, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Cassandra Li Ong appears before the House of Representatives House quad committee investigating alleged extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration, the crimes linked to illegal drugs, as well as in POGOs at the House of Representatives on August 28, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Adrian Ayalin

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176475407117320240828-ong-cassandra-quad-comm-JC-9.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Cassandra Li Ong appears before the House of Representatives House quad committee investigating alleged extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration, the crimes linked to illegal drugs, as well as in POGOs at the House of Representatives on August 28, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/>Cassandra Li Ong appears before the House of Representatives House quad committee investigating alleged extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration, the crimes linked to illegal drugs, as well as in POGOs at the House of Representatives on August 28, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA (UPDATED) -- The Department of Justice on Wednesday reiterated that there is no information that Cassandra Li Ong has left the Philippines, based on available records.The statement of the DOJ comes after Malacanang confirmed that Ong, who is facing a qualified trafficking charge, is still in the country.<div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/2/cassandra-ong-is-in-the-philippines-palace-1249">Cassandra Ong is in the Philippines: Palace</a></div>&quot;We cannot however confirm her exact whereabouts, nor can we discount the possibility that she may have exited the country through backdoor channels,&quot; said DOJ spokesperson Atty. Polo Martinez. The DOJ also reiterated that it has put out a P1 million reward for information that would lead to Ong’s arrest.<div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/25/p1-million-reward-out-for-info-on-cassandra-li-ong-1143">P1 million reward out for info on Cassandra Li Ong</a></div>&quot;The DOJ continues to seek the public&#x27;s assistance in providing credible and actionable information as to her whereabouts,&quot; Martinez said.Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police assured that it is intensifying its efforts to track down and arrest Ong and more than 50 others accused of qualified human trafficking in connection with the alleged scam hub operated by Lucky South 99.Acting PNP chief Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Wednesday said he ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to step up operations to locate all suspects, not just Ong, whether they are in the country or abroad.&quot;We do not only focus on Ms Ong, we will also make sure that all the respondents, whether they are in the Philippines or abroad, will be located and be taken to the court that issued the arrest warrant,&quot; Nartatez said in a statement. A Pampanga court earlier issued arrest warrants against Ong and her co-accused for qualified human trafficking linked to the activities of the now-defunct Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub, Lucky South 99, alleged to have been used as a scam center.Among those charged is former presidential spokesperson and lawyer Harry Roque, who has denied any wrongdoing.Ong, identified as a representative of the closed POGO hub, recently suffered a setback after the Court of Appeals dismissed her petition questioning the Department of Justice’s resolution indicting her.&quot;The Philippine National Police is an integral part of our justice system. Our mandate tis to serve the order of the court and in this case, locate and bring all the accused to face the charges against them,&quot; Nartatez said. <div></div>

The Department of Justice reiterated that there is no information that Cassandra Li Ong has left the Philippines based on available records.

The Department of Justice reiterated that there is no information that Cassandra Li Ong has left the Philippines based on available records.

DOJ says no record of Cassandra Ong's departure; PNP ramps up manhunt

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DOJ says no record of Cassandra Ong's departure; PNP ramps up manhunt

Adrian Ayalin,

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 03, 2025 05:32 PM PHT

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Updated December 03, 2025 09:23 PM PHT

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Cassandra Ong

DOJ

POGO

Human Trafficking

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