Cassandra Ong (left), Alice Guo (Speaker’s office)

Suffice it to say that Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) personalities Cassandra Ong and Alice Guo had a bad day Thursday, Sept. 19 during their participation in the House quad-committee (quad-comm) hearing. 

Ong, 24, and Guo, 38, sat through the grueling 13-hour hearing, only to be cited for contempt at the tail end of the proceedings. 

They were penalized by the congressmen for failing to satisfactorily answer relatively simple questions. 

Seeking and gaining the contempt citations for the women was none other than quad-comm co-chairman Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen "Caraps" Paduano, who regular watchers of the hearing know has very low tolerance for lying and evasiveness. 

What's your school? 

During the hearing, Ong appeared stumped when Paduano asked her where she took her Alternative Learning System (ALS). studies. 

“Wag mo sabihin i-double check naman. Pwede bang makalimutan mo kung nag-ALS ka at tsaka anong taon?” the visibly irked Paduano said. 

(Don't tell me that you're going to double-check again. Is it even possible for you to forgot where you took up ALS and in what year?) 

“Hindi ko po sigurado kung anong exact year (I'm not sure what year)," answered the Lucky South 99 representative, before settling on the year 2016. 

When Paduano pressed her to name the actual school, Ong replied, “I forgot na Mr. Chair. Public school po siya (I've forgotten, Mr. Chair. It's a public school)." 

“Pwede ba yun na hindi mo alam kung saan school ka na-enroll for the ALS? Baka hindi ka nag-ALS, baka sa ibang bansa ka nag-aral?” asked Paduano. 

(Is it possible for you not to know what school you enrolled for ALS? Maybe you didn't take up ALS and studied abroad instead?) 

“Nag-ALS po ako, ilang beses lang po ako pumasok (I took up ALS, I only attended class a few times)," she said. 

An exasperated Antipolo City 2nd district Rep. Romeo Acop then commented: “Ako po’y matanda na eh pero alam ko pa rin kung saan ako nag-graduate ng elementary school. Alam ko rin kung anong buwan at taon ako ikinasal. Tapos ikaw batambata ka pa hindi mo alam kung kailan ka nagtapos. Anak ng tinapay naman oh.” 

(I'm old and yet I know where I graduated elementary from. I even know the month and year of my wedding. And you, you're so young and you don't even know when you graduated. Oh my goodness.) 

Paduano moved to cite Ong for contempt afterwards. 

ALSO READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/19/matic-magsinungaling-garin-fact-checks-ong-s-claim-that-she-s-taking-maintenance

Why not post bail? 

Guo, on the other hand, was asked by the Abang Lingkod solon she did not post bail on the graft charges filed against her by the Ombudsman. The bail bond for the dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor is P180,000.  

Guo answered that even if she posted bail, she would not be freed because of the contempt order of the other legislative chamber, the Senate.  

Paduano was unsatisfied with the her response, and said that the non-availment of the bail was "a deliberate move from you".  

"Hindi kayo nag-bail kasi mas gusto mong naka-detain doon sa PNP (Philippine National Police) Custodial Facility...Ayun yung totoong nangyari doon,” said the firebrand solon.  

(You didn't post bail because you prefer to be detained at the PNP Custodial Facility...That's what really happened there.)  

Paduano said he finds it hard to believe that Guo--with her "billions"--can't cough up the P180,000. This means that it's her choice not to pay.  

“You're fooling this country your fooling the Filipino people,” Paduano told Guo, after which he moved for the contempt citation.  

Ong was ordered to be taken to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City, but only after Sept. 26 when she will have completed her first detention penalty at the House of Representatives. The quad-comm had cited her for contempt twice before. 

Guo, who had been held at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City, was ordered transferred to the House detention center after her arraignment Friday.