Manila: The Court of Appeals (CA) has dismissed the petition filed by Katherine Cassandra Li Ong questioning her indictment for qualified human trafficking over her alleged part in the illegal activities of a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Central Luzon.

According to Philippines News Agency, in a seven-page resolution dated June 25, the appellate court's Special 13th Division "dismissed outright" Ong's petition for being premature as she failed to file a motion for reconsideration before the Department of Justice (DOJ). "In not availing of a motion for reconsideration and an available appeal, petitioner (Ong) deprived PG (Prosecutor General Richard) Fadullon and the SOJ (secretary of justice) of the opportunity to review the findings of their respective subordinates and to correct any errors that have been committed by them," the CA said.

The court also turned down her claim that her right to due process had been denied, citing alleged remarks attributed to officials. "It is of no moment that the SOJ, in public statements, expressed trust and confidence in the professional judgment of the state prosecutors who had a hand in the assailed Resolution. A superior's expression of trust and confidence in his subordinates does not equate to pre-judgment or the surrender by the superior of discretion to correct errors by his subordinates," the CA explained.

"Petitioner's belief that reconsideration and appeal would have been futile in this case is speculative and conjectural. Immediate resort to this court was unjustified, and this court has no other duty but to dismiss the petition."

Ong, along with former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and at least 53 others, have been charged with human trafficking in relation to the operations of Lucky South 99 Corp., a POGO hub raided in Porac, Pampanga. In August last year, Ong was with Guo Hua Ping, a.k.a. Alice Leal Guo, and Shiela Guo when they were intercepted in Indonesia after fleeing the country.