MANILA – On Wednesday evening, Cassandra Ong clarified that she is neither a business partner nor a friend of Alice Guo, a former mayor of Bamban, Tarlac.
Ong explained that her connection to Guo is solely through her boyfriend, Wesley, who is Alice Guo’s brother.
During a hearing, Representative Bienvenido Abante asked Ong if Alice Guo was her business partner, to which Ong replied, “No.” She also denied any involvement with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).
“‘Yung business namin is nagre-rent lang sa mga – building. Real estate lang,” Ong stated.
“I am not related to any POGO,” she added.
When Abante inquired if she was friends with Alice Guo, Ong responded, “Kakilala po… dahil kay Wesley Guo.”
Ong admitted to working with Whirlwind Corp., the company that allegedly leased the Barangay Santa Cruz property to Lucky South 99, an illegal POGO operation that was raided in Porac, Pampanga, last June.
Representative Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez questioned Ong about her connection to Whirlwind Corp. and Lucky South 99, to which she confirmed her involvement. When asked if these corporations were established for legitimate purposes, Ong affirmed, “Yes.”
Ong denied claims that she began her career as an executive assistant at Lucky South 99, but she did not elaborate further.
“Yun ang alam ng other people but hindi,” she clarified.
The House Quad Committee recently lifted its second contempt order against Cassandra Ong.
Ong also chose not to disclose where she initially worked, citing “privacy reasons,” but mentioned she had experience in “processing applications” for various corporations.
“Nag-deal din kayo ng applications of other corporations, hindi lang Whirlwind? Tama? Would you care to share with us what other corporations you’ve dealt with?” asked Gutierrez.
When asked if she had processed applications for other companies for the Securities and Exchange Commission, Ong stated there were none. However, she confirmed that she processed the license application of Lucky South 99 with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
Lucky South 99, previously licensed as a POGO, was raided in June following reports of illegal activities, including torture.
The Department of Justice earlier highlighted that the apprehension of former Lucky South 99 representative Ong and Shiela Guo in Indonesia provided evidence linking the Porac and Bamban POGO operations.
Shiela is related to Alice Guo, the former mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, who has been accused of facilitating POGO operations in her municipality while allegedly being a Chinese citizen, a claim she has denied.
Authorities did not locate ex-Mayor Guo when Shiela and Ong were arrested in Indonesia last week.
During a Senate inquiry, Ong invoked her right against self-incrimination, declining to provide further testimony.
Ong stated she left the Philippines via an airport but denied that she was with Alice Guo or Shiela Guo at the time. She added that she first met Alice Guo in Malaysia, their initial stop after departing the Philippines. They later traveled to Singapore and then to Batam, Indonesia.
“Humingi lang ako ng tulong during noong pumunta si Wesley Guo sa Indonesia dahil he’s not familiar with the place. Siyempre nag-alala din ako so nagpatulong ako,” she explained.
“July nag-message si Wesley Guo na pupunta siya sa Malaysia, at the time, pinuntahan namin siya,” Ong continued.
Ong mentioned that their visit to Singapore was solely for travel purposes and not for any business discussions.
“Hindi kasama si Alice Guo doon,” she said regarding the businesses she was involved in.
“Wala akong negosyo, yung side ko with Guo family,” she added. “Si Lucky South 99 pinarenta niya lang. Sub-lease,” she said.
Ong clarified that Whirlwind Corp. allowed Lucky South 99 to lease its building because it was previously a licensed POGO.
“Rental business. Not POGO business. Real estate,” Ong emphasized, referring to Whirlwind Corp.
“Dahil si Whirlwind pinarentahan kay Lucky South and si Lucky South pinarentahan lang sa mga POGO company,” she said.
“Wala akong any relationship with a POGO,” Ong reiterated.