MANILA, Philippines – Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, legal counsel of Lucky South 99 authorized representative Katherine Cassandra Li Ong cried foul of his client’s detention at the National Bureau of Investigation upon her arrival from Indonesia because the only warrant issued to her was legislative in nature making her camp argue that she should have been immediately turned over to the House of Representatives.
On Monday, Topacio said the NBI has no basis at all to detain Ong since she has no standing warrant released by any court of law yet.
“Walang warrant, walang kaso, i-de-detain mo sa NBI? Sabi ko nga kung pagdating niyan tinurn-over niyo sa House Sergeant at arms wala naman tayong problema,” he said in a press conference Monday.
“Bakit binigyan pa nila ang sarili nila ng problema That is arbitrary detention… when a public officer detains another without legal cause,” he said.
Ong is implicated in illegal offshore gaming operations in the Philippines and is allegedly a business partner of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo. The Department of Justice said the fact that they reportedly fled the country together proves a solid POGO connection between Bamban and Pampanga.
Because of this, Topacio said their camp eyes filing raps against the Department of Justice to explain the nature of Ong’s NBI detention since the institution falls under its jurisdiction.
“Mag-fi-file kami ng kaso,” Topacio said.
“Definitely. [the DOJ would be among the respondents] Kasi ang DOJ naman ang nasa ibabaw ng NBI eh. Ang NBI nga naawa ako eh,” he said.
In an interview, DOJ Spokesperson Atty. Mico Clavano said Ong was arrested for various criminal liabilities such as obstruction of justice, violation of passport act and criminal provision of the Immigration Act.
This was dispelled by Topacio who said an Immigration officer told him Ong did not commit any violation of the passport act since their records show she is a Filipino and a valid holder of a Filipino passport.
“With respect to Cassy Li Ong she went out of the country through the normal channels,” he said.
In a separate interview, NBI Director Jaime Santiago belied such claims and that they only followed the process.
“Alam mo bukod sa Congress, may warrant from Congress for contempt, we arrested them without warrant and filed charges against them,” Santiago said.
“Walang ano dito, walang politikal ano dito, walang ganon. ‘Yung process ay sinunod lang po namin,” Santiago said.
The DOJ has yet to respond to Topacio’s statement.
