Benito Techico, the presidential special envoy to China for Trade, Tourism, and Investment, has clarified a recent photograph showing President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Cassandra Li Ong, who is linked to an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga. Techico denied any close relationship between the Marcoses and Ong, asserting that the photo is being misinterpreted.
Techico made this statement after Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, Ong’s legal counsel, released a group photo featuring the First Couple, Techico, Ong, and a purported POGO owner, among others. According to Techico, while the photo is authentic, the narrative presented by Topacio is not accurate. As reported by Mariz Umali on “Unang Balita,” Techico explained that the picture was taken in November 2020 at a restaurant in Pasay City, well before Marcos became president. He added that someone had requested a photo with the Marcoses, who were unaware of the identities of the people in the photo.
“After dinner, the restaurant owner introduced someone to us, and there were Chinese companions who asked for a photo with our President around 2020. The President agreed, as it was a typical photo opportunity. That was it, and they left afterward,” Techico recounted.
He emphasized that he only realized Ong was in the photo when it was made public by Topacio during a press conference. Techico also mentioned he did not discuss the matter with President Marcos.
Topacio, however, suggested that the photo could explain why illegal POGO hubs allegedly increased during the Marcos administration. Ong is associated with Lucky South 99, a POGO hub that was recently raided in Porac, Pampanga. She was apprehended in Indonesia last week and returned to the Philippines along with Shiela Guo, the sister of former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, who is also linked to illegal POGO activities.
Both Ong and Shiela Guo were transferred to the House of Representatives and Senate, respectively, from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) upon their arrival in the Philippines.