KATHERINE Cassandra Li Ong’s lawyers, led by Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, were able to sway by the quadcom of the House, prompting them to retract their motion to hold her in contempt for the second time and detain her at the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City.
During the initial part of Ong’s interrogation, which lasted for 11 and a half hours, she refused to speak and consistently responded with “I refuse to testify” whenever questioned by lawmakers, even about her educational background.
As a result, Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., one of the four chairmen of the quadcom, moved to hold Ong in contempt, despite an existing contempt order, which was promptly seconded by Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop.
In the second and third motions by House committee on public accounts Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, it was recommended that Ong be detained at CIW until the quadcom concludes its inquiry into the connections between Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), Illegal Drug trade, and Extra-Judicial Killings (EJK) during the war-on-drugs of the previous administration under former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Ong became emotional, pointing fingers at her involvement in Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga, upon hearing that she would be detained at CIW.
Before Ong could speak, her lawyer, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, was asked to leave the hearing by the congressmen after they noticed him whispering to his client during questioning.
Lead chairman of quadcom, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, also warned Topacio that despite being cautioned by the congressmen, he continued to whisper to Ong, prompting the committee staff to surround him to prevent him from approaching his client.
As a result, Ong began answering all questions from lawmakers, and before the hearing ended at nine in the evening, she agreed to sign a waiver to allow the disclosure of her bank transactions.
Following this, Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong moved to revoke the contempt order and the detention at CIW until the Quad-Comm hearing concludes, a motion approved by the committee.
Nevertheless, Ong remains detained at the Batasan Pambansa due to her initial contempt order, while Lucky South 99’s corporate secretary, Ronelyn Baterna, was able to return home after the committee revoked her contempt order upon signing a waiver allowing the disclosure of her bank transactions.
