MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched a full-scale public appeal for leads in the widening manhunt for Cassandra Li Ong, offering a P1-million reward amid mounting concerns over how the human trafficking suspect managed to slip through authorities.
Acting Justice Secretary Frederick Vida on Tuesday said the reward is intended to generate “credible, actionable information” that could finally lead to Ong’s capture.
Ong is among those charged with qualified human trafficking in connection with the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hubs Lucky South 99 and Whirlwind Corporation.
She remains at large even after months of “intensified search efforts,” according to the DOJ.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) earlier said Ong was last traced to Japan before disappearing from monitoring systems.
She was arrested in Indonesia in August 2024 together with Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo and her alleged sister Sheila Guo after being tagged by Indonesian authorities as “suspicious foreigners.”
The three were deported to the Philippines for immigration violations, including illegal exit from the country by bypassing official ports.
However, Ong was released during what Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian last week described as the “transition” between the 19th and 20th Congresses.
The DOJ has earlier confirmed that the passports of Ong and Harry Roque were canceled by the Pasig Regional Trial Court as part of proceedings related to the human trafficking case.
Authorities reiterated that any information provided will be treated with strict confidentiality as the search for Ong continues./PN
