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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOJ offers P1-M reward for Cassandra Ong's arrest

DOJ offers P1-M reward for Cassandra Ong's arrest

Published Nov 25, 2025 02:10 pm
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday, Nov. 25, offered a P1 million reward for information that will lead to the arrest of Cassandra Li Ong, one of the co-accused of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque in qualified human trafficking cases pending before the Pasig City regional trial court (RTC).
The award was announced by Acting DOJ Secretary Fredderick A. Vida during a press briefing on Tuesday, Nov. 25.
On Monday, Nov. 24, the Pasig City RTC ordered the cancellation of the passports of Ong, Roque, Dennis L. Cunanan, Ronelyn Bahan Baterna, and Mercides Peralta Macabasa.
Last May, the trial court issued an arrest warrant against them for qualified human trafficking charges involving alleged criminal activities of Lucky South 99, a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Porac, Pampanga that has been shut down by the government.
Ong has been tagged as the authorized representative of Lucky South 99 while Roque was named as the firm’s lawyer.
In August last year, Ong was arrested by local authorities in Indonesia after having fled the Philippines amid the ongoing legislative hearings on the criminal activities of POGOs.
Vida said: “With the current information we have, we don’t have enough. That’s why we are offering the reward, and based on verified information, as of today, there’s no record of any departure from the Philippines.”
Responding to information from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) that Ong is in Japan, Vida assured: “All information will be weighed, all information will be factored in.”
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