Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin (left), Cassandra Ong (PPAB, Speaker’s office)

Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) personality Cassandra Ong made the huge mistake of claiming to take "maintenance" medicine while the doctor was in at the House quad-committee (quad-comm) hearing Thursday, Sept. 19. 

This very real doctor was Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin, the former Department of Health (DOH) secretary who described Ong to her face as a "pathological liar". 

Ong, 24, earlier said in the hearing that her "low sugar" was no longer a problem thanks to her maintenance. 

She was hospitalized last Sept. 4, directly after the quad-comm hearing that day wherein she experienced dizziness and stress. 

A curious Garin asked Ong on Thursday:"You mentioned OK naman kasi may maintenance. Ano po ang maintenance niyo?" 

(You mentioned that you felt OK because you're taking maintenance. What is your maintenance?) 

"You don't have to ask your lawyer kung ano ang maintenance mo (You don't have to ask your lawyer about what your maintenance is)," the lady solon quickly added when she noticed Ong turning to her three lawyers for help. 

"Ah, medical po. Hindi ko po sure kung anong, ano. For blood lang po siya. And mayroon din po for anxiety po...bale galing po sa ospital po," a stammering Ong finally answered. 

(It's medical. I'm not sure what it is. It's for the blood. There's also one for anxiety...it's from the hospital.) 

When Garin asked what the specific name of the medicines were, the resource person reiterated "Hindi ko po sure (I'm not sure)." 

Garin confirmed from Ong that during the latter's Sept. 4 health issue, she was offered something surgary to drink. 

"Iced tea po," Ong said, to which the Iloilo solon replied "Yes, iced tea is full of sugar." 

'Just for the record Mr. Chair, with that, it is very clear that the hypoglycemia or the pagbaba ng sugar was self-inflicted," Garin told the special four-way panel. 

"Kaya po pag nangyayari yan, pinapakain ng White Rabbit at bumabalik sa normal. That's why I interjected Mr. Chair because very troubling sa akin as a mother and as a doctor, napaka-matic ng pagsisinungaling ni Ms. Cassie Ong," said the House deputy majority leader. 

(Whenever that happens, the person is given White Rabbit [candy] and it goes back to normal. That's why I interjected Mr. Chair because it's very troubling for me as a mother and as a doctor, the way Ms. Cassie Ong lies automatically.) 

BUT FIRST, READ THIS:

https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/11/pwede-na-ulit-isalang-cassandra-ong-discharged-from-hospital-says-house

"When she was asked, low sugar? Agad agad, naka-smile pa with all the eyes, 'Walang problema, kasi, may maintenance.' 

(She quickly answered, with a smile and with all the eyes, 'There's no problem, because I have maintenance.') 

"In other words Mr. Chair--I hope I'm wrong--but her actuations and her actions and her actions reflect a complete picture of a pathological liar," Garin said of Ong. 

The resource person didn't give a response.

Ong is the representative of Lucky South 99--an alleged illegal POGO in Porac, Pampanga.