Detained Chinese businessman Tony Yang and Whirlwind Corporation stakeholder Cassandra Ong will be home before Christmas but not former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.

This developed after the House of Representatives Quad Committee decided on Thursday night (December 12) to lift the contempt orders against the three that led to their detention.

However, Guo, who is facing various criminal cases, is not expected to be released from detention notwithstanding the Lower House decision.

Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, legal counsel for Ong, said he was to fetch a client from the Correctional Institute for Women Friday morning, apparently referring to Ong.

Earlier, Topacio revealed plans to question the Quadcomm decision to detain his client in the CIW, stressing that the prison facility is for women convicted of criminal offenses.

“CIW is a facility for persons who have been convicted in the first instance. It is not a detention facility for those cited for legislative contempt,” said Topacio.

The QuadComm decision to lift the contempt directive against the three pre-empted Topacio’s planned legal action.

Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano on Thursday moved for the approval of the respective appeals of the three figures linked to illegal POGO operations in the country.

The committee approved the motion and was expected to issue the release order for the three witnesses.

Ong was ordered detained at the CIW on October 23 after being cited for contempt for her failure to submit key documents regarding her relationship with Whirlwind Corporation. The firm was linked to Lucky South 99, a POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga.

Yang was placed under the custody of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and was cited for contempt on September 27.

Sta. Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez moved for his detention for allegedly lying before the House panel. Yang denied knowing Chinese businessman Allan Lim although documentary evidence indicated that the latter was a business partner in a rice milling business in Cagayan de Oro City.

Guo is facing charges of falsification of public documents, perjury and obstruction of justice and qualified trafficking, among other cases.