Katherine Cassandra Li Ong, a personality linked to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Porac, Pampanga, and Sheila Leal Guo, the sister of the dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, are now under the custody of Indonesia immigration authorities and is set to retun to the country today, government officials confirmed on Thursday.
The national police have confirmed that the Indonesian authorities have apprehended the two alleged accomplices of Guo. PNP Spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo stated that Ong and Guo's sibling were captured on August 20.
The two were taken into custody after the Philippine National Police's (PNP) Foreign Liaison Division worked with the police attaché of their foreign counterpart.
Senator Risa Hontiveros commended the Indonesian authorities for their action in upholding the law and maintaining security. The senator believes that it is a promising development.
"This goes to show how human trafficking facilitated by POGOs is a regional problem that needs a regional, even global, solution," Hontiveros said in her official statement on Thursday.
Sta. Rosa, Laguna Representative Dan Fernandez revealed during the House quad-committee investigation into drugs, extrajudicial killings, and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO), that Ong is apprehended in Indonesia.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla also confirmed in an ambush interview with reporters that Ong and Sheila Leal Guo, Guo’s sister, were taken into custody in Indonesia.
The secretary also confirmed that the operations of POGOs in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga are interconnected.
“The connection is there. It proves the connection between Bamban and Porac operations," Remulla said.
In a separate statement on Thursday, Senator Raffy Tulfo mentioned that Guo's sibling and Ong was caught in Indonesia.
"Sinundo sila ng mga kawani ng ating Bureau of Immigration sa Indonesian Immigration," Tulfo said.
"Nahuli sina Shiela Leal Guo at Cassandra Li Ong sa Mega Mall Batam Centre, isang mall sa Riau, Indonesia noong Aug. 20. Nang makwelyuhan ng Indonesian Immigration ang dalawa, hindi kasama si Alice Guo at pinaniniwalaang ito ay nakapuslit," he added.
Tulfo revealed that Alice Guo, Sheila Leal Guo, and Cassandra Li Ong entered Singapore via cruise ship.
"Dahil sa intelligence data sharing, ang Philippine Bureau of Immigration ay lumiham sa Indonesian Immigration at nagrequest na manmanan ang tatlo at kung mahuli ay agad na maimpormahan sila at i-turnover sa kanila," Tulfo stated.
On Wednesday, several officials from the Bureau of Immigration flew to Indonesia to fetch the two.
This update comes after the government sought to revoke the passports of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, her sibling, and Ong, who managed to leave the country despite being subject to an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order.
The two individuals are among those sought by the House of Representatives and the Senate.
