Dismissed Bamban Tarlac mayor Alice Guo’s alleged business associate Cassandra Li Ong skipped the continuation of the Senate sub-panel’s investigation into the mayor’s escape from the Philippines.
A letter from the House of Representatives read by the Senate sub-panel’s secretary stated that Ong is sick and is hospitalized.
“Please be informed that while the joint committee had approved your rests, Ms. (Cassandra) Ong is currently unwell and cannot attend the aforesaid public hearing,” House panel on dangerous drugs committee secretary Artur Felix Catarata said in a letter to the Senate subcommittee dated Sept. 4, 2024.
“During our own public hearing today, Ms. Ong’s blood sugar and blood pressure went so low that the joint committee decided to suspend the hearing and excuse her from testifying upon the advice of the attending medical doctors of the House of Representatives,” he further said in the letter.
“According to our own doctors, Ms. Ong may need to be confined in a hospital and may require two to three days to stabilize her health condition,” he also said.
Ong is allegedly an incorporator to Whirlwind Corporation which leased land to Lucky South 99, the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga that was raided by authorities last June.
During the House probe, Ong admitted that Wesley Guo, Alice’s brother is her boyfriend but denied having any ties with other members of the Guo family.
Ong is facing charges of violation of Section 1(c) of Presidential Decree No. 1829 for obstruction of justice, specifically for harboring, concealing or facilitating the escape of a criminal offender.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed the charges against Ong before a Pasay City Regional Trial Court.
Ong, along with Shiela Guo, who is said to be the sister of Alice, was repatriated back to the Philippines after they were arrested by Indonesian authorities.
Meanwhile, Stephen David, legal counsel of Alice Guo said Wesley is keen on surrendering to authorities.
“He wants to surrender,” David told reporters in an interview at the sidelines of the hearing.
He, however, did not disclose how they are coordinating with authorities on Wesley’s supposed plan to surrender.
“We are working on that,” the lawyer said.
David also said he has no knowledge about Wesley’s whereabouts saying the latter would not tell when asked.
During the hearing last week, Shiela Guo had earlier told the Senate sub-panel that she, Alice and Wesley left the Philippines by boats, riding three different vessels going to Malaysia.
From Malaysia, the three of them traveled to Singapore and afterwards went to Indonesia.
According to Shiela, the three of them parted ways in Batam, Indonesia where she and Ong were eventually arrested.