Lawyer of Cassandra Li Ong Speaks on her Photo w/ President, First Lady
CASSANDRA LI ONG – The camp of Ong who is linked to the illegal POGO operation in Porac confirmed her photo with President Marcos and First Lady Liza.
Now, not only the names of some high-profile individuals were dragged into the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) operations investigation. The President and the First Lady also received bashing online after a lawyer showed a photo of them with alleged POGO personalities.
Yesterday, Attorney Ferdinand Topacio presented a photo of Pres. Bongbong Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos with the alleged POGO personalities. He showed the photo during the Pandesal forum held in Quezon City.
The photo shown by Topacio gained different reactions from the people. To recall, in his 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA), Pres. Bongbong Marcos announced the ban of POGOs in the Philippines. The Chief Executive was silent on the issue prior to his national address thus it elicited cheers from the audience.
Despite the POGO ban order of the Pres. Marcos, the investigation continued. However, countless Filipinos were left disappointed over the departure of dismissed Mayor Alice Guo from the Philippines amid multiple complaints filed against her.
Guo who is accused of link to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operations in her town is on the immigration lookout bulletin. The Senate has released an arrest order against her more than a month ago but the authorities were unable to locate the former Mayor.
The Bureau of Immigration believes that Alice Guo is still in Indonesia now. Recently, Alice’s sister, Shiela Guo, and Cassandra Li Ong were detained in Indonesia and sent back to the Philippines. Ong is facing accusations of her alleged involvement in the illegal POGO operations in Porac, Pampanga.
Shiela Guo who felt unwell upon her arrival at NAIA was brought to the Senate while Cassandra Li Ong was brought to the House of Representatives. Recently, based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the camp of Ong aired her side on her controversial photo with the President and the First Lady.
“I would like to tell you that Miss Cassandra Li Ong confirms the authenticity of this picture. Sabi niya, ang nakikita niyo rito sa picture na ito ay talagang andiyan at the same time, at this place and on that date with President Marcos and First Lady Liza Marcos. She confirms this,” the lawyer said.
Based on the report, aside from the President and the First Lady, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Director Jose Maria Ortega, Special Envoy to China Benito Techico, former Bureau of Customs official Noel Patrick Prudente, Retired General Noel Estanislao, and a certain Mr. Wo were also in the controversial photo.
According to the lawyer, his client also confirmed to knowing some information about POGOs in the Philippines and as to why they multiplied under the Marcos administration. He stressed that “a picture speakers a thousand words”.
