Cassandra Li Ong stated in the Senate investigation into illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) that she was unaware her stepfather Wu Duanren was a fugitive wanted in China.
Wu Duanren, a name that has recently been frequently appearing in major Philippine news headlines.
According to Cassandra Ong, Wu Duanren was her mother's best friend, and she served as Wu's goddaughter, personal translator, and also the girlfriend of Wesley Guo, the brother of Guo Aili.
How many unknown stories are hidden behind this mysterious man's business activities in the Philippines?
Wu Duanren's police career had its glorious moments. In July 2012, as a police officer at the Jiangtou Police Station in Xiamen, he led the investigation of a major economic case involving 230 million yuan in credit card cash-outs, which was covered by CCTV news. However, his life took a drastic turn after he resigned and moved to the Philippines, becoming a businessman.
Cassandra mentioned that Wu Duanren co-registered "Whirlwind Corp." with Josefina Mascarenas, and this company's association with "Lucky South 99" is particularly noteworthy.
In fact, the major owner of "Lucky South 99" is Wu Duanren, although it was nominally initiated by Stephanie Mascareñas.
In her testimony in the House, Stephanie mentioned that Ong also hired former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque as the lawyer for Whirlwind Corp. to handle an eviction case brought by landowners, pushing Wu Duanren's business operations into the spotlight once again.
Moreover, two accomplices, Zhang Ruijin and Lin Baoying, who helped Guo Huaping and others flee the Philippines, revealed the complex network behind Wu Duanren's business collaborations.
Originally Chinese nationals, they later acquired citizenships of Saint Kitts and Nevis and the Dominican Republic, respectively. However, they were exposed in a money laundering case in Singapore, found to have illegal assets amounting to 630 million yuan and 920 million yuan, and have been sentenced to 15 months by a Singapore court. After serving their sentences, they will be deported to Cambodia and permanently banned from re-entering Singapore.
Philippine government officials pointed out that "Lucky South 99" in Porac, Pampanga, and "Zun Yuan Technology Inc" in Bamban, Tarlac, are actually operated by the same team, making Wu Duanren and his partners' business activities increasingly intertwined.
The latest news about Wu Duanren is that Zhang Qiaowei mentioned he has left the Philippines and recently leaked information about him being in Hong Kong.
As the situation continues to develop, Wu Duanren's background and his connections with his accomplices are increasingly scrutinized. The Philippine and international communities' vigilance towards this gambling tycoon is growing, and how society will react in the future remains to be seen.
