MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Risa Hontiveros said her office has conducted its independent verification of the reported arrest of Shiela Guo, sister of ex Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and Katherine Cassandra Li Ong, Lucky South 99, Porac, Pampanga offshore gaming operator facility authorized representative in Indonesia.
“Thanks to our international contacts, my office has also independently verified the apprehension of Cassandra Li Ong, and Alice Guo’s sibling Shiela Guo,” Hontiveros said in a post on Thursday, August 22.
“We commend the Indonesian authorities for their decisive action in upholding the law and maintaining security. This is a promising development, and a testament to our collective efforts,” she said.
“This goes to show how human trafficking facilitated by POGOs is a regional problem that needs a regional, even global, solution,” she said.
Ong is seen as a crucial witness that could shed light to the interconnection of personalities linked into the POGO controversy in the country.
“Mahigpit na binantayan si Cassandra Li Ong dahil sya ang makakapagbigay-linaw at makakapagturo ng mga ng dapat managot sa mga totoong nasa likod ng POGO na Lucky South 99 sa Porac, Pampanga,” she said.
Guo’s involvement in the raided POGO hubs in Bamban is being investigated. Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque’s name surfaced when his name was enlisted as the legal head of the company.
“Ano nga ba ang kinalaman niya kina Alice Guo, Harry Roque, at iba pa? Sino ang nagpapuslit sa kanya at sa kapatid ni Alice Guo para makalabas sa bansa?” Hontiveros said.
Guo, her siblings and even Ong were able to flee the country without passing through immigration authorities according to the Bureau of Immigration.
“At bakit butas-butas ang sistema natin sa immigration? Naniniwala ako na masasagot lahat yan sa ating susunod na hearing,” Hontiveros said.
Shiela is under Senate warrant of arrest for continuously snubbing its invitation to become a resource speaker. Ong has been cited in contempt by the House of Representatives.
“Inaasahan ko rin ang pagdalo ni Cassandra Li Ong at Shiela Guo sa ating hearing sa Martes. Mananagot sila sa pag-iwas nila sa Senado,” Hontiveros said.
