Cassandra Ong FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — In what was a lightweight second throughout the grueling 13-hour listening to of the Home of Representatives’ quad-committee, Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop chided Katherine Cassandra Li Ong for supposedly having preferential remedy in direction of dashing lawmakers.
Acop, throughout the latter a part of the quad-committee listening to on Wednesday, expressed confusion as to why Ong refused to reply questions from Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro however responded instantly to 1-Rider party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez and Santa Rosa Metropolis Rep. Dan Fernandez.
“Now, Madam Cassie Ong, kanina no’ng si Honorable Luistro ang nagtatanong po sa inyo, eh para bang ayaw niyong sumagot, tinanong pa kita what was your reply, ang sagot mo sa akin ‘I refuse to testify’. Bakit noong si Legal professional, si Honorable Gutierrez at saka si Honorable Fernandez ang nagtanong, chill out na chill out kang sumagot,” Acop stated.
(Now, Madam Cassie Ong, some time in the past when it was Honorable Luistro who was asking you, you didn’t need to reply. I even requested you why, and also you stated ‘I refuse to testify’. Why is it that you just have been relaxed when Honorable Gutierrez and Honorable Fernandez have been elevating questions?)
“Kaya tuloy ako hindi nagtanong kanina. Oo, dahil kanina refuse to testify ang okay’wan mo, ang sagot mo iha eh. Kaya tuloy hindi na ako nagtanong. Pero napansin ko no’ng ‘yong mga gwapong lalaki ang nagtatanong, eh sumagot po kayo at relaxed na relaxed na. Might I do know the explanation why?” he requested.
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(That’s why I didn’t ask questions some time in the past. Since you answered by saying that you just refuse to testify. However I noticed that when good-looking guys have been asking you, you answered instantly and also you appeared relaxed.)
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In response, Ong stated she actually didn’t need to give solutions however the recommendation of her lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, to reply to the queries simply coincided with the 2 lawmakers talked about.
“Okay, can I clarify po ‘di ba? No’ng una, I actually need to refuse to reply po, after which kinausap po ako ng abugado ko na magsalita na sa committee na ito, that’s why nagsalita po ako, tumiming lang po talaga kay Madam Chair,” Ong stated.
(Okay, can I clarify? First, I actually need to refuse to reply, after which I talked to my lawyer who informed me to reply to the committee, that’s why I simply talked, it simply timed with the questions of the Madam Chair.)
Previous to this change, Acop additionally requested Ong if she was in a position to focus on points with Fernandez forward of the quad-committee listening to, saying that it appears the latter is aware of greater than the remainder of the panel’s members.
In response, Ong stated that he was in a position to change messages and actually have a telephone name with Fernandez, for one occasion.
“Earlier than this listening to — as a result of we carried out a joint committee listening to of the video games and amusements and the general public order and security. You have been cited for contempt there, that’s the reason you might be right here as we speak. Since that listening to, have been you in a position to speak with Honorable Fernandez?” Acop requested.
“As a result of he is aware of loads that I don’t know. I’m an investigator, I hope you perceive that. No, as a result of if you went in, the best way you and Honorable Fernandez checked out one another had a special which means. You have been glancing at him a number of occasions to the purpose that I believed he’s your lawyer, not Legal professional Topacio eh. Did you textual content one another or speak over the telephone? Sure or no?” he added.
“As soon as lang ‘yon pare isang beses lang,” Fernandez, who was heard speaking on the background, stated.
“As soon as solely […] Textual content and and telephone name, as soon as lang po,” Ong admitted.
Prior these discussions, the quad-committee cited Ong for contempt anew after she refused to reply questions from lawmakers, saying that she was invoking her proper towards self-incrimination.
Ultimately, Ong modified her solutions, replying with a extra direct “I refuse to testify,” prompting Manila sixth District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. to make the movement.
READ: Home quad-panel cites Cassandra Ong for contempt anew
However Ong’s tone ultimately modified, as she began to reply questions throughout Gutierrez’ flip to interpellate. Gutierrez — who was one of many few lawmakers who received Vice President Sara Duterte to talk throughout the deliberations for the Workplace of the Vice President (OVP) proposed price range for 2025 — managed to get affirmation that Ong labored for each Whirlwind Company and Fortunate South 99.
Whirlwind Company, the place Ong holds a 58 p.c stake, is the corporate that leased land in Porac, Pampanga, to Fortunate South 99, which then set-up a Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub.
There have been hunches from lawmakers that Whirlwind and Fortunate South 99 have been interconnected — a perception that was confirmed when Ong answered Gutierrez’ queries.
READ: After VP Duterte, Rep. Gutierrez additionally will get Cassandra Ong to talk
Like Ong, Vice President Duterte additionally kept away from instantly answering questions raised by lawmakers on Tuesday, solely saying that she both forgoes the chance to defend the price range in a question-and-answer format, or insisting that they’ve already coordinated with the Fee on Audit relating to the discover of disallowance on the confidential funds (CF).
Resulting from Duterte’s solutions, tensions flared with ACT Academics party-list Rep. France Castro likening the Vice President to a squid who releases ink when beneath stress.
The breakthrough got here throughout Gutierrez’s questioning, as Duterte claimed that there was a script being adopted since 2023, the place the CF challenge can be used to assault her and the OVP.
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Gutierrez requested why the OVP not spent its CF for the fourth quarter of 2023. Based on the Vice President, they not used the CF after Congress eliminated the key funds for the proposed 2024 price range, to point out that they’ll survive with out it.
