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Ong lawyer eyes arbitrary detention case vs NBI, DOJ

Philippines | Luzon

Ong lawyer eyes arbitrary detention case vs NBI, DOJ

By Freddie Lazaro

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur – Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said on Monday, August 26, that he is studying the filing of an arbitrary detention complaint against the National Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice for taking his client Cassandra Li Ong into custody upon her arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from Indonesia with Sheila Guo, sister of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo on Thursday afternoon. August 22.

TOPACIO

Topacio, speaking in a press conference in Quezon City brodcast online, said the NBI has no legal basis for arresting Ong as she does not have any case filed in court and a warrant of arrest.

He said that he is studying filing a case before the Ombudsman as government officials might be involved.

Topacio added that he is also studying officials who will be charged.

“The moment she was taken into custody by NBI, it already arbitrary detention. The meaning of detention here is not necessary to put you in jail as if you are in a place, a room, or an enclosure where you cannot exit or deprived of liberty, that is already detention even if you are inside the car,” Topacio said.

Topacio said that Ong was not illegally out of the country as she has a passport. “Ong does not have a hold-departure order from any court and there is no legal basis preventing her from going out of the country,” he said.

Related Tags

Alice Guo Ferdinand Topacio Cassandra Ong Sheila Guo

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