DOJ OFFERS P1M REWARD FOR ARREST OF CASSANDRA ONG  

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday offered a  a P1-million reward for any information that could lead to the arrest of Lucky South 99 representative Cassandra Li Ong.

Ong, the alleged business associate of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, faces human trafficking charges in connection with the illegal POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator) hub in Porac, Pampanga.

According to Justice Acting Secretary Fredderick Vida, the reward aims to gather “credible, actionable information” on Ong’s whereabouts.

“Batid naman po natin sa nakalipas ay may kakayanan sila. May kakayanan na umikot, gumalaw, at makalabas at pumasok ng Pilipinas nang hindi natutukoy,” Vida said during a press briefing.

The reward money was offered after Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian told a Senate hearing that Ong had been released from the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City and is now “at large.”

Vida admitted that authorities are struggling to track Ong. He said it remains unclear whether she is still in the Philippines.

“Definitely with the current information that we have, we don’t have enough. That’s why we’re offering the reward. And it’s an effective tool,” he said.

 The  Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) has canceled the passports of Ong and former Duterte presidential spokesperson and human rights lawyer Harry Roque.

Judge Ana Teresa Cornejo-Tomacruz of the Pasig City RTC Branch 157 granted the motion to cancel the passports of Roque, Ong, and three of their co-accused in the human trafficking case that stemmed from the operations of a raided POGO  hub in Porac.