CA dismisses Cassie Ong’s petition vs. trafficking raps

The Court of Appeals (CA) has dismissed the petition filed by Cassandra Li Ong against the resolution of the Department of Justice (DOJ) that indicted her for qualified human trafficking over the Lucky South 99 POGO firm in Porac, Pampanga.

In a seven-page resolution dated June 25, the CA Special 13th Division did not agree with Ong’s justification to immediately file the petition before the CA instead of filing a motion for reconsideration before the DOJ.

“Petitioner’s belief that reconsideration and appeal would have been futile in this case is speculative and conjectural,” the CA said.

“Immediate resort to this Court was unjustified and this court has no other duty but to dismiss the petition,” it added.

In her petition, Ong argued that filing a motion for reconsideration would have been futile as she was convinced that the Prosecutor General would not reverse the decision due to the manner by which the prosecution panel allegedly disregarded her right to due process and allegedly glossed over her defenses.

She also argued that it would have been useless due to Remulla’s “evident bias” from his public statements.

However, the CA said that she deprived the DOJ to correct possible mistakes that their subordinates may have made.

“In not availing of a motion for reconsideration and an available appeal, petitioner deprived PG Fadullon and the SOJ 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.

According to the CA, it was irrelevant that Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla expressed trust and confidence in the judgment of the prosecutions handling the case.

“A superior's expression of trust and confidence in his subordinates does not equate to pre-judgment or the surrender by the superior of discretion to correct errors by his subordinates,” it said.

GMA News Online has reached out to Ong’s camp for comment.

Ong, the authorized representative of the Lucky South 99, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, and others were charged with qualified human trafficking in April.

In May, the Angeles, Pampanga Regional Trial Court Branch 118 issued warrants of arrest against Ong and her co-accused. —VAL, GMA Integrated News