Cassandra Li Ong’s camp filed a petition on Wednesday, September 11, asking the Supreme Court to look into possible constitutional rights' violations against the former’s involvement on the POGO probe.
Ferdinand Topacio, Ong’s lawyer filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition before the Court, with a motion for Temporary Restraining Order/Injunction and Oral Arguments. In an interview with reporters, Topacio acknowledged the legislative’s initiative to investigate the POGO operations in aid of legislation. However, he said that there were instances where they felt that the House and Senate Committee violated Ong’s Constitutional Rights.
“‘Yun lamang ang aming pinipigil lalong-lalo na yung invocation namin ng right to remain silent at ang right against self incrimination, hinihiling lang namin na kilalanin ng bawat kamara,” Topacio said.
“Kapag siya ay iniinvoke yung kanyang right to remain silent or right against self-incrimination. Nakita niyo naman publicly broadcasted yung mga proceedings lalong-lalo na sa House, ay sinisigawan siya, kinukutya siya; She’s being ridiculed, iniintimidate, tine-threaten, may mga very insulting words na sinasabi sa kanya,” he added.
Moreover, he highlighted that once the right to remain silent is invoked, no further questioning should be made by the panel. Topacio also criticized the House Quad Committee’s process, saying that the lawmakers should only investigate information relevant to amending laws.
“Ang gustong mangyari ng ating mambabatas ay maging imbestigador sila, maging NBI sila o maging pulis sila. Ang iniimbestigahan na nila, guilt or innocence or participation in a crime,” he said.
“Pagka legislative inquiry sinabi na ng Court, ang relevant lang dyan ang impormasyon para matulungan ang ating mga mambabatas na gumawa ng panukalang batas. Hindi para mag imbestiga kung sino may kasalanan sa ganong krimen. ‘Yun ay, with all due respect to our lawmakers, pagmamalabis na ng kapangyarihan ng lehislatura,” he added.
Ong is currently in custody of the House and is under investigation by the Quad Committee on her ties with the POGO operations in Porac, Pampanga.
On the same day, human trafficking charges were filed against Ong and several others, after 10 foreign nationals came forward to file the complaint along with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
