House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The House of Representatives, though the quad-committee (quad-comm), has issued an arrest order against businesswoman Cassandra Ong, who is an associate of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo. 

The arrest order was issued on Thursday afternoon, Aug. 22, a few hours after it was reported that Ong was detained by authorities in Indonesia. 

"Pursuant to the authority of the Speaker, under Rule IV, Section 15 (j) to sign all acts, resolutions, 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 30 days," read the two-page document addressed to House Sergeant-at-Arms Napoleon Taas. 

Former Bamban town mayor Guo, who had been linked to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), reportedly met Ong in Singapore after she flew out of the Philippines under the radar of local authorities. 

Ong had earlier been cited for contempt by the House of Representatives for her failure to attend hearings in connection with the POGO controversy. 

Signing the arrest order were House Secretary-General Reginald Velasco and the four chairmen of the quad-comm, namely Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, ABANG LINGKOD Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., and Santa Rosa City lone district Rep. Dan Fernandez. 
 

"Based on the order of the quad-comm to take into custody and detain Ms. Katherine Cassandra Li Ong. the House Sergeant-at-Arms, in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) is tasked to enforce such order and take into custody Ms. Li Ong as soon as she arrives in the Philippines," Velasco later told House reporters.

The quad-comm is holding a public hearing at the House of Representatives as of this posting.

It was Fernandez who broke the news about Ong's detention at the hands of Indonesian authorities on Thursday.