The House of Representatives’ Quad Committee has approved a motion to cite Cassandra Ong in contempt and recommended her detention at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.
The order came after Ong refused to answer a question from Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano regarding where she completed her Alternative Learning System (ALS) education.
No objections were raised to the contempt order, and it was swiftly approved by Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, who presided over the committee hearing.
Despite the ongoing investigation, both the Senate and the House of Representatives have struggled to obtain satisfactory answers from Ong and Guo Hua Ping, with their responses often lacking in detail.
In another session, Solon Paduano expressed disappointment with Guo’s responses and also filed a motion to cite Guo in contempt, which was approved by Rep. Barbers.
The committee will discuss where to detain Guo, who is currently in the custody of the PNP Custodial Center due to pending graft and other criminal charges.
Paduano’s motion includes detaining Guo until the committee’s report is finalized and approved in the House plenary.
During the hearing, Paduano questioned Guo on why she did not post bail, which only amounted to Php 180,000. He speculated that Guo deliberately avoided posting bail because she preferred to stay detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Both Ong and Guo were summoned by the committee in connection with the ongoing investigation into illegal POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) activities, where they are allegedly involved.