Government files human trafficking charges against Katherine Ong and 53 others

Government authorities filed qualified human trafficking charges against Katherine Cassandra L. Ong and 53 others linked to the Lucky South 99 POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga on Tuesday.

The complaint was submitted to the Department of Justice (DoJ) by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).

Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix L. Ty stated that this is the first of many cases planned against individuals involved in Lucky South 99.

The case involves ten foreign victim-complainants who were allegedly kidnapped from casinos, loaned money under coercive terms, and forced to work in online gaming operations.

Ong was arrested after failing to attend a House hearing due to her ties with Lucky South 99, and is now facing non-bailable human trafficking charges.

Aside from human trafficking charges, Ong also faces 87 counts of money laundering with penalties ranging from seven to fourteen years per count.