00:00A good Tuesday evening to all. Yours truly, Gabrielle Lopez here for PTV News Now, kicking off our stories both here and abroad.
00:11At a glance, she appears to be frail, fragile and naive, but don't let the optics deceive you.
00:17Because Cassandra Lee, Ong, may well be your Gen Z version of Bonnie with no need for Clyde.
00:22After managing to convince the House Quad Committee investigating the Pogo scandal and illegal drug war last year to lift her contempt order and release her from detention on medical reasons,
00:33Cassie Lee, as she is known to friends, has since flown the coop to evade arrest as a key figure in human trafficking in Pogo hubs in central Luzon and elsewhere.
00:41She was an authorized representative and ranking officer of Lucky South 99, a BPO-by-day, Pogo-by-night business entity which authorities shut down in late 2024 for criminal activities,
00:54ranging from extortion, kidnap for ransom, torture and online scams, among others.
01:00An oppressor earlier today, Justice Department Secretary Frederick Vida formally offered a bounty of a million pesos for information,
01:07leading to the positive discovery, location and eventual arrest of the Mrs. Ong.
01:13Vida believes Cassie Lee was able to slip out of the country via the backdoor of Southern Border Right after the seizure of her passport and release from detention last year.
01:23Her associations with just convicted fellow Alice Guo and known shady businessman Michael Yang,
01:28along with unsavory Chinese Pogo personalities, have endowed her with the cunning and cleverness she needs to skirt the law whenever she could.
01:36She was last reported to be in Japan over the last weekend.
01:42Senators on Tuesday backed long-delayed upgrades and reforms in government communication agencies
01:47as they tackled the proposed 2.714 billion peso 2026 budget of the Presidential Communications Office.
01:55Senator Legarda said the Senate wants stronger capabilities for the PCO and its attached agencies,
02:02from facility rehabilitation and digital upgrades to addressing employment issues in state media.
02:08Senators Rafi and Erwin Tulfo both expressed full support,
02:12with Rafi even pleading personal funds to help revive PTV4.
02:16Lawmakers also highlighted the PCO's crucial role in countering misinformation
02:20and ensuring accurate communication of government policies.
02:24The budget review covered allocations for PCO proper, PIA, NIB, PTV4, IBC13, RTVM, and other attached offices.
02:37Former President Donald Trump has directed a full reassessment of nearly 200,000 refugees admitted during the Biden administration.
02:45His order freezes all pending green card applications and requires each refugee to undergo a newly eligibility interview.
02:54The member argues that Biden-era vetting was rushed and insufficient,
02:58prompting what Trump calls a necessary security check.
03:01Critics warn the move could strip thousands of legal protections with little room for appeal.
03:06The directive marks one of Trump's most aggressive reversals yet of Biden's immigration policies.
03:11So that's a wrap for tonight's show.
03:15Join us anew tomorrow night for another round of major stories here in Abroad, breaking at the hour.
03:20Remember to always stay connected by catching the news right here.
03:24This is Gabrielle Lopez wishing you all a restful night ahead and thank you for watching PTV News Now.
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