PAOCC: Cassandra Ong tracked in Japan

Cassandra Li Ong, the documented representative of controversial Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) Lucky South 99, flew to Japan following her release from detention. 

Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesperson Winston Casio on Saturday reported Ong's last tracked location during a news forum in Quezon City.

"[Ong] was last tracked in Japan… I am pretty certain it was the first quarter of this year," Casio said.

"She left around January," he said.

Ong has an active warrant of arrest issued by the Pampanga Regional Trial Court (RTC) in May for qualified human trafficking in relation to the alleged scam hub operations of Lucky South 99.

The PAOCC official said there is already an Interpol red notice for Ong. 

Casio's statement comes a day after Senator Sherwin Gatchalian told a Senate panel that Ong has been released from detention from the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City and was now "at large."

The House Quad Committee probing POGO-linked crimes cited Ong in contempt for the second time in September last year.

A week later on September 26, she was transferred to the CIW after the QuadCom approved the motion for her detention there.

Casio explained that Ong was in detention "on the basis of a contempt order by the Quadcom," but when the "lifespan of the 19th Congress has already ended, she can longer be detained because the authority of the Congress which cited her in contempt is already over."

"So they are duty bound to release her, otherwise, they could be charged with arbitrary detention or any other violation of Cassie Li Ong’s rights… Because there was no arrest warrant yet at that time, it was sometime in December, when she was released by Quadcom," the PAOCC official said.

Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission spokesperson Winston Cassio said Cassandra Ong, a documented representative of POGO firm Lucky South 99, was last tracked in Japan. pic.twitter.com/upqlYS65hf

— Ted Cordero (@Ted_Cordero) November 22, 2025

Since then, Casio said the PAOCC along with Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Department of Justice-National Bureau of Investigation have been tracking the movements of Ong.

"Our last tracked movement of hers was in Japan… after that we have no more idea where she went," he said.

Asked if Ong also flew to other countries, apart from Japan, Casio said, "That we are not privy anymore so now we have to backtrack everything with regard to her movement."

Last Friday, Gatchalian said that when the 19th Congress adjourned sine die in June 2025, Ong was allowed release from detention but a case had yet to be filed in court.

GMA News Online has reached out to Gatchalian regarding PAOCC's statements on Ong's travel and known location.

The Pampanga RTC-Branch 118 issued warrants of arrest last May against Ong and others for qualified human trafficking over Lucky South 99's alleged illegal activities.

In July, the Court of Appeals (CA) dismissed the petition filed by Ong against the Department of Justice (DOJ) resolution that indicted her for qualified human trafficking.

Casio, meanwhile, said the PAOCC will collaborate with the NBI and other agencies to further track and bring back Ong to the country.

The PAOCC official also clarified that only an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) was issued against Ong, thus she was still able to exit the Philippines.

"An ILBO is simply a watchlist… when a person who is a subject of an ILBO present himself or herself to any immigration counter, the immigration officer is duty bound to call the DOJ to confirm if there is already a warrant of arrest against the person… if there is none, she or he can go," Casio said. 

Meanwhile, Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Senate panel which investigated POGO abuses, challenged Philippine authorities to go after Ong amid her reported departure from the country.

"Hindi puwedeng walang pananagutan si Cassie Li Ong. Human trafficking ang kaso niya, hindi ito minor traffic violation na puwedeng palampasin (Cassie Li Ong should not be allowed to go scot-free. She has a human trafficking case, not a minor traffic violation which can be shrugged off)," Hontiveros said.

She likewise urged that Ong's passport be cancelled, aside from pursuing other actions to bring the former POGO representative to the fold of the law.

"Maliban sa Interpol red notice, dapat naring kanselahin ng gubyerno ang passport ni Cassie Ong at iba pa niyang kasabwat (Aside from an Interpol red notice, the government should also cancel the passport of Cassie Ong and her conspirators)," Hontiveros said.

"Hindi siya turista (She's not a tourist)," she added.

Active coordination with international counterparts, Hontiveros said, should be performed by Philippine law enforcers in pursuing Ong.

"Bring Cassie back to our country and make her face justice. Hindi siya dapat makalusot (She should not escape)," Hontiveros said. — VDV, GMA Integrated News