Cassandra Ong Explained

Cassandra Ong
Birth Name:Katherine Cassandra Li Ong
Birth Date:23 May 2000[1]
Birth Place:San Juan, Philippines
Citizenship:Filipino
Occupation:Businesswoman
Father:Richard Ong Chao
Mother:Ying Xia Li

Katherine Cassandra Li Ong (born May 23, 2000), also nicknamed Cassy Li,[2] is a Filipino[3] businesswoman who was an associate of Lucky South 99 Outsourcing, Inc., a defunct Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Porac, Pampanga, that has been investigated by authorities for criminal activities committed within its compound. She acted as the "authorized representative" of the company when acquiring its operating license from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) in 2019.

On August 20, 2024, she was apprehended by authorities in Batam, Riau Islands, Indonesia, and was thereafter brought back to the Philippines.

Early life

Katherine Cassandra Li Ong as per records was born on May 23, 2000, in San Juan, Metro Manila to Chinese parents Richard Ong Chao and Ying Xia Li.[4] [5] Richard Ong Chao sought Filipino citizenship via naturalization in 1978.[4]

According to Cassandra, she was delivered by a hilot after which she was brought to the Chinese General Hospital in Manila. Irregularities were found about the listed address in her birth certificate, particularly the house number which Senator and former San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada insist to be non-existent.[6] [7] [8]

During a July 2024 hearing by the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) informed the committee that Ong was not a true Filipino citizen based on the evidence they gathered, with her parents availing a late registration of birth for her in 2001.[5] However, PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio corrected the conclusion a month later and stated that her Filipino citizenship is authentic.[3] Her actual date of birth is unclear, with PAOCC determining it to be around the late 1980s to early 1990s.[1]

Education

Ong's educational background is also disputed. During the House quad-committee hearing on September 19, 2024, she claimed to have studied at Manila Patriotic School in Santa Cruz, Manila but did not finish her elementary education. She also denied attending high school in China or elsewhere, despite being shown a photo of herself in a graduation toga, which she attributed to her participation in the Department of Education’s Alternative Learning System (ALS). Ong insisted that she only attended a few sessions of ALS and expressed uncertainty about her registration.[9]

Early business career

Ong previously owned a milk tea shop in San Juan, Metro Manila, before moving to Pampanga around 2019 or 2020. There, she opened a pet-friendly aesthetic center and is rumored to own a café restaurant and resort in Angeles City.

Activities with Lucky South 99

Ong is an incorporator of the real estate firm Whirlwind Corp., of which she owned 58% of its shares.[5] The firm leased a 10ha land within the Grand Palazzo Royale in Porac, Pampanga to the POGO company Lucky South 99 Outsourcing, Inc. (formerly called Xinsheng IT Start-Up).[10] Ong sent a letter of no objection (LONO) to the municipal hall of Porac to permit the operation of Lucky South 99, which was approved in November 2019.[11] A license to operate was granted to Lucky South 99 by PAGCOR in 2020, which was valid until October 2023.[12]

Whirlwind hired former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque as a lawyer,[10] with Roque accompanying Ong in visiting PAGCOR on July 26, 2023, to assist in settling Lucky South 99's arrears to PAGCOR.[13] [14] He also acted on the sole behalf of Ong in his multiple calls to a PAGCOR executive to inquire about the remaining necessary documents to be filed for Lucky South 99.[13] According to Roque, Ong became Whirlwind's Corporate Secretary in September 2023, and in the same month had him accompany her in reapplying Lucky South 99 for an Internet Gaming License (IGL) from PAGCOR.[14] By May 22, 2024, PAGCOR sent a letter to Ong denying the IGL application due to alleged illegal activities that occurred in the establishment in 2022.[15]

In early June 2024, police authorities from various organizations arrived at Lucky South 99 to rescue the remaining victims within the compound despite a limited search warrant.[16]

Ong is listed as the owner of a lavish mansion in a 2.2ha compound in Porac, which was raided by police on July 6, 2024.[17] [18] [1]

Post-closure

On August 1, 2024, PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco revealed that Ong had fled to Singapore, according to information received by police authorities.[19]

On August 9, 2024, three people separately filed charges against 13 officers of Lucky South 99, including Ong, for identity theft and falsification of documents due to the inclusion of the petitioners' names in corporate documents without their knowledge. On August 16, four committees of the House of Representatives (i.e., Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Human Rights, and Public Accounts) together issued a contempt order against Ong for failing to attend their legislative inquiries.[20] She was cited in contempt once again by the committee on September 20 for "lying" and ordered detained at the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong for 30 days beginning on September 26.[21]

By August 20, Ong was captured alongside Shiela Guo at Mega Mall Batam Center in Batam, Indonesia by local authorities, and subsequently placed in the custody of the Directorate General of Immigration.[22] [23] Two days later, they were brought back to the Philippines to be placed in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).[24]

On August 30, the Anti-Money Laundering Council, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, and the National Bureau of Investigation filed a money laundering case against Ong, Alice Guo, and 32 others before the Department of Justice (DOJ).[25] On September 10, Ong and 51 others were charged with qualified human trafficking at the DOJ for their alleged involvement in the Lucky South 99 POGO operations.[26] On October 29, Harry Roque was included as co-respondent by the PAOCC and the PNP-CIDG in the non-bailable qualified Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 case.[27]

Personal life

Ong's boyfriend is Wesley Guo, brother of Alice Guo, a former mayor of Bamban, Tarlac who was dismissed from the position by the Ombudsman for "grave misconduct" over another case involving POGOs.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Esguerra. Christian. Ano ang koneksyon ni Cassandra Ong sa helicopter ni Alice Guo, ayon sa PAOCC?. July 14, 2024. YouTube. Google LLC. August 16, 2024. Filipino, English. 3:25, 4:52. Christian, you remember over the weekend, the provincial government of Pampanga[...] raided a mansion? [...] Alam mo kung sino may ari no'n? Cassy Li.. August 22, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240822083153/https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=ltl-EiMDByI. live.
  2. News: Villeza. Mark Ernest. NBI raids alleged POGO-owned clinic. August 16, 2024. Philstar.com. Philstar Global Corp.. July 8, 2024. Manila, Philippines. August 21, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240821224715/https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/07/08/2368490/nbi-raids-alleged-pogo-owned-clinic. live.
  3. Esguerra. Christian. PAOCC confirms: Alice Guo nakalabas na ng Pilipinas!. August 20, 2024. YouTube. Google LLC. August 22, 2024. 15:19. Ah, si Cassy Li Ong! She is a Filipino. Na-reconfirm na po namin na Filipino po talaga siya..
  4. Web site: Buan . Lian . 2024-08-29 . Who is Cassandra Ong, the 24-year-old linked to the Bamban, Porac POGOs? . https://web.archive.org/web/20240912082655/https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/who-is-cassandra-ong-bamban-tarlac-porac-pampanga-pogos/. 2024-09-12 . 2024-08-29 . Rappler . en-US.
  5. News: Lalu. Gabriel Pabico. PAOCC: Woman linked to Porac Pogo may also be a Chinese national. August 13, 2024. Inquirer News. INQUIRER.net. July 23, 2024. Manila, Philippines.
  6. News: Mangaluz . Jean . Cassandra Ong’s birth certificate questionable as well, says Estrada . 19 September 2024 . The Philippine Star . 17 September 2024.
  7. News: Who is Cassandra Ong, the 24-year-old linked to the Bamban, Porac POGOs?. Lian. Buan. Joann. Manabat. August 29, 2024. September 5, 2024. Rappler. September 5, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240905080204/https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/who-is-cassandra-ong-bamban-tarlac-porac-pampanga-pogos/. live.
  8. News: Locus . Sundy . Jinggoy: Birthplace in Cassandra Ong's birth certificate non-existent . 19 September 2024 . GMA News . 17 September 2024 . en . September 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240919120407/https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/920737/jinggoy-birthplace-in-cassandra-ong-s-birth-certificate-non-existent/story/ . live .
  9. News: Cassandra Ong insists she didn’t graduate despite grad photos. Gabriel Pabico. Lalu. September 19, 2024. September 20, 2024. INQUIRER.net. September 20, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240920022458/https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1985060/picture-lang-cassandra-ong-insists-she-didnt-graduate-despite-grad-photos. live.
  10. News: Buan. Lian. Chinese fugitive caught in Benguet house linked to Harry Roque. August 16, 2024. Rappler. Rappler Inc.. July 29, 2024. Manila, Philippines.
  11. News: Buan. Lian. A shady POGO rises fast, law enforcers scramble to pin it down. August 16, 2024. Rappler. Rappler Inc.. June 12, 2024. June 13, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240613004048/https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/shady-pogo-porac-pampanga-rises-fast-law-enforcers-scramble-pin-down/. live.
  12. News: Ferreras. Vince. Only 1 of 46 buildings inside Porac POGO hub licensed to operate —PAGCOR. August 17, 2024. GMA News Online. GMA Network. June 22, 2024.
  13. News: Buan. Lian. House probe: Roque 'effectively' lawyered for POGO. August 16, 2024. Rappler. Rappler Inc.. August 2, 2024. August 9, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240809221157/https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/inside-track/house-hearing-harry-roque-lawyered-porac-pogo/. live.
  14. News: Villarue. Jauhn Etienne. Senate panel to summon Harry Roque over alleged links to Porac POGO. August 17, 2024. ABS-CBN News. ABS-CBN Corporation. July 10, 2024. Manila. August 22, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240822084653/https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/10/senate-panel-to-summon-harry-roque-over-alleged-links-to-porac-pogo-1215. live.
  15. News: Manabat. Joann. Suspected Chinese military uniforms found in Porac POGO. August 17, 2024. Rappler. Rappler Inc.. June 11, 2024. Pampanga, Philippines.
  16. News5Everywhere. Raid sa Lucky South 99, naudlot dahil sa warrant | #TedFailonandDJChaCha. June 6, 2024. YouTube. Google LLC. August 22, 2024. Filipino, English.
  17. News: Rappler.com. LOOK: Police inspect mansions, villas allegedly owned by Porac POGO 'big bosses'. August 16, 2024. Rappler. Rappler Inc.. July 10, 2024. Manila, Philippines. August 22, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240822083154/https://www.rappler.com/philippines/luzon/pnp-inspects-mansions-villas-allegedly-owned-pogo-bosses-porac-pampanga/. live.
  18. News: Manabat. Joann. Authorities raid alleged private residence of Porac POGO 'big bosses'. August 16, 2024. Rappler. Rappler Inc.. July 7, 2024. Pampanga, Philippines. August 22, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240822083154/https://www.rappler.com/philippines/luzon/pnp-inspects-mansions-villas-allegedly-owned-pogo-bosses-porac-pampanga/. live.
  19. News: Locus. Sundy. PAGCOR's Tengco: Police said Cassandra Li Ong in Singapore. August 13, 2024. GMA News Online. GMA Network. August 1, 2024. August 22, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240822083151/https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/915591/pagcor-tengco-porac-pogo-cassandra-li-ong-already-in-singapore/story/. live.
  20. News: Bolledo. Jairo. House mega-panel cites Cassandra Ong, tied to Porac POGO, in contempt. August 17, 2024. Rappler. Rappler Inc.. August 16, 2024. Manila, Philippines. August 17, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240817015801/https://www.rappler.com/philippines/house-panel-cites-cassandra-ong-tagged-porac-pampanga-pogo-contempt/. live.
  21. News: Cassandra Ong cited in contempt anew, ordered detained for 30 days. Job. Manahan. Willard. Cheng. September 20, 2024. September 20, 2024. ABs-CBN News. September 20, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240920033400/https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/20/cassandra-ong-cited-in-contempt-anew-ordered-detained-for-30-days-938. live.
  22. News: Villaruel . Jauhn Etienne . How Indonesian authorities busted Alice Guo's sister, alleged cohort . August 22, 2024 . . . August 22, 2024 . August 22, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822081007/https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/22/how-indonesian-authorities-busted-alice-guo-s-sister-alleged-cohort-1506 . live .
  23. News: Bolledo. Jairo. Alice Guo's cohort Cassandra Ong, sister now under Indonesian custody. August 22, 2024. Rappler. Rappler Inc.. August 22, 2024. Manila, Philippines. August 22, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240822032049/https://www.rappler.com/philippines/katherine-cassandra-ong-alice-guo-cohort-under-custody-indonesian-authorities/. live.
  24. News: Peralta-Malonzo. Third Anne. NBI to take custody of Sheila Guo, Ong. August 23, 2024. SunStar. SunStar Publishing Inc.. August 22, 2024. August 23, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240823022612/https://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/nbi-to-take-custody-of-sheila-guo-ong. live.
  25. News: Money laundering suit filed vs Alice Guo, Cassandra Ong, 32 others. Lian. Buan. August 30, 2024. September 11, 2024. Rappler.
  26. News: Cassandra Ong, 51 others charged with qualified human trafficking. Luisa. Cabato. September 10, 2024. September 11, 2024. INQUIRER.net. September 11, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240911022949/https://globalnation.inquirer.net/248665/cassandra-ong-51-others-charged-with-qualified-human-trafficking. live.
  27. News: Roque set to file counter affidavit vs human trafficking case. October 29, 2024 . Philippine Daily Inquirer. October 29, 2024.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Cassandra Ong".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.