Court of Appeals (CA) junks the petition of Cassandra Ong due to lack of merit.
Businesswoman Cassandra Ong submitted a petition challenging the qualified human trafficking charges filed, but it was junked by the Court of Appeals (CA).
Filipino-Chinese businesswoman Cassandra Ong was arrested for charges of qualified trafficking with over 50 others. It is non-bailable, but they may file a petition for bail. The qualified human trafficking charge was related to the raid of Lucky South 99. This is the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Porac, Pampanga, which was raided.
On May 13, 2025, Ong’s camp filed a petition for certiorari, which challenges the resolution that indicted her and the others of qualified human trafficking charges that were filed in September 2024.
In a 7-page resolution from the Court of Appeals (CA), the petition accordingly lacked merit. The Special 13th Division was not convinced by the arguments, and the petition was premature after failure to file a motion for reconsideration before the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“In not availing of a motion for reconsideration and an available appeal, petitioner (Ong) deprived PG (Prosecutor General Richard) Fadullon and the SOJ (secretary of justice) of the opportunity to review the findings of their respective subordinates and to correct any errors that have been committed by them,” the CA said.
Her claim that she was denied her right to due process was also turned down. Guo is the point person of Whirlwind and the Lucky South 99 POGO. These are being investigated after a raid revealed evidence of massive scamming, trafficking, and torture.
Meanwhile, Ong was with Guo Hua Ping, a.k.a. Alice Leal Guo, and Shiela Guo when they were intercepted and arrested in Indonesia after leaving the country amid their legal woes.
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