The Sandiganbayan has once more denied the bail petition of Mary Ann Maslog, a key figure implicated in the P24-million textbook procurement anomaly from 1998.
Maslog, also known by the alias “Dra. Jesica Sese Francisco,” filed her second motion for reconsideration on December 12, 2024. The motion sought to reverse the court’s earlier resolution rejecting her “Very Respectful Urgent Motion to Lift Bench Warrant and/or Post Bail” filed on November 25, 2024.
However, in its December 19, 2024 resolution, the Sandiganbayan Second Division declared her motion “bereft of merit” after thoroughly reviewing the arguments presented by both the accused and the prosecution.
“While the right to bail is constitutionally guaranteed under Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution, it is not absolute,” the court said. It pointed out Maslog’s repeated acts of evasion—such as jumping bail, using multiple aliases, and fleeing abroad—constituted a “grave violation of her legal obligations.”
The court recalled that Maslog was granted bail in 2017 but failed to appear at subsequent hearings, effectively abandoning her commitment to face her charges.
Her use of false identities, including “Dra. Jesica Sese Francisco,” further demonstrated her clear intent to evade accountability.
“Despite overwhelming evidence, such as the fingerprint analysis conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), she persisted in claiming a false identity, showcasing her deliberate efforts to mislead authorities,” the resolution stated.
Maslog was arrested by NBI agents on September 25, 2024, after complaints were filed against a certain “Jessica Francisco.” Investigations revealed through fingerprint matching that Maslog and Francisco were the same person.
The court also noted that Maslog’s child had falsely reported her as deceased to mislead authorities and evade prosecution.
“Taken together, the totality of her actions—her history of absconding, failure to voluntarily appear before the Court, and use of spurious identities—proves a high probability of flight. Her past conduct makes any assurance of her compliance with bail conditions wholly unreliable,” the court emphasized.
The resolution further warned that granting bail under these circumstances would erode public confidence in the judicial system. “The accused-movant’s deliberate and repeated violations of her bail obligations, combined with her pattern of evasion, disqualify her from availing of the privilege of bail,” it said.
The Bench Warrant for Maslog’s arrest remains in effect to ensure her presence during trial. The court also rejected her claims of procedural infirmity, asserting they were unsupported by evidence.
Maslog, a publishing company agent, was charged alongside two Department of Education, Culture, and Sports (now Department of Education) officials with graft over the 1998 textbook procurement scam.
The Office of the Ombudsman previously alleged that the two DECS officials approved and processed documents for a P24-million supply contract favoring Esteem Enterprises, a company represented by Maslog.
In 2020, the two former DECS officials were convicted and sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. The case against Maslog was previously dismissed in 2019 following reports of her alleged death. — DVM, GMA Integrated News
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