Cassandra Li Ong, the authorized representative of Lucky South 99, has expressed that she would prefer to face imprisonment rather than participate in legislative investigations, as she does not want to endure further public humiliation, according to her legal counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, on Saturday.
"Kung gusto ‘nyong ikulong, kulong ‘nyo na po, sabi niya. ‘Kahit sa women’s correctional, tatanggapin ko na, huwag lang akong pahiyain ‘nyo sa harap ng milyon-milyong mga tao.’ She does not want to testify,” Topacio said during a press forum.
Ong has been invited to serve as a resource person at the upcoming Senate hearing on Monday, which delves into the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country.
During the previous hearing of the House of Representatives quad-committee, Ong was rushed to the hospital due to hypotension (low blood pressure) and low blood sugar.
Ralph Andrada, another legal counsel for Ong, pointed out the risk of his client developing a mental disorder due to multiple breakdowns, highlighting the traumatic impact of the experience.
"She's been experiencing several breakdowns. In fact, when I visited her last night and gave her updates on the status of her cases, she had another breakdown," Andrada mentioned.
Topacio then appealed to Senator Risa Hontiveros and other lawmakers to hear his client's plea.
"Kung kakasuhan, kasuhan na po natin. Pero ‘wag na po sana itong dramang ito. Kawawa po ‘yung bata," said Topacio.
Ong vehemently denied being a dummy or operator for Lucky South 99, the raided POGO in Porac, Pampanga, despite appearing as its representative in several documents.
She asserts that she is only a major stockholder of Whirlwind, the real estate company that leased the property to the POGO.
In addition to Ong, dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo is scheduled to appear before a Senate panel on Monday regarding her alleged connections to the POGO in her former jurisdiction.
Ong, along with Guo’s alleged sister, Shiela Guo, was arrested by Indonesian authorities on August 20 and was brought back to the Philippines on August 22.
Meanwhile, Alice Guo was arrested at Jakarta, Indonesia on September 4 and returned to the Philippines on September 6.
Ong is currently in the custody of the House of Representatives.
