Mary Ann Maslog

Mary Ann was a medical representative of Dispo Philippines in 1992 in Davao City. By December she was promoted to Assistant Sales Manager for the said company, and was assigned in Butuan, where she would meet her future husband Rommel Maslog. In 1997, she and Rommel started a company called Esteem Enterprises, which was focused on acquiring government contracts in the distribution of medicines and books.^[1]

Summarize Timeline Fact Check

Mary Ann Maslog conspired with two other Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) officials in late 1998, Emilia V. Aranas who was Chief Accountant for Region VIII (Eastern Visayas), and Ernesto R. Guiang, Chief of Budget and Finance Division Region VIII. Investigators found that Aranas and Guiang processed and approved documents pertaining to PhP 24 million supply contract to Esteem Enterprise of Maslog. The Sub-Allotment Release Order (SARO) documents submitted were also found to be falsified for^[1][2][3]

On January 19, 1999, Maslog was caught delivering PhP 3 million at the Department of Budget & Management (DBM) in a box at the Malacañang Palace compound. The box was addressed to Secretary Benjamin Diokno, who was surprised and asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police to investigate Maslog thoroughly.^[1]

During a Senate hearing under the Blue Ribbon and the Education, Arts and Culture Committees chaired by Senator Nene Pimentel, Maslog was brought in to testify, and was found to be initially evasive. The NBI disclosed that Maslog arrived in Malacanang at noon time and handed the box containing the money to Celeste Payot, who was the legislative liaison specialist of DBM. The NBI quoted Maslog saying that the PhP 3 million was intended for Deputy Executive Secretary Vicente dela Serna and Ricardo Fulgencio, a consultant of the Office of the President. It was also disclosed that Mary Ann was accompanied by her husband Rommel Maslog. The Senate hearing cleared dela Serna and Fulgencio, but recommended that charges be filed against Maslog.^[2]

Senator Raul Roco meanwhile disclosed that Maslog was part of the "Gang of Four" who were known lobbyists and influence peddlers at DECS. These were Maslog, Celia Ejercito de Castro, a cousin of then President Joseph Estrada, Nora Petines, and Laarni Enriquez, Estrada's mistress. The "Gang of Four" was trying to secure a PhP 200 million budget from DECS for the procurement of textbooks, and Maslog was merely a courier of the group. Maslog denied the accusation of knowing or being part of the "Gang of Four."

Sen. Roco also disclosed that it was Maslog, Petines, and De Castro who approached Caloocan mayor Boy Asistio to lobby with Enriquez to get the DECS PhP 400 million budget on various procurement. Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora and Malacanang Spokesperson Jerry Barican questioned the Senate Committee's accusation, and said that they should first make sure of the criminal actions of Laarni Enriquez before summoning her to the Senate.^[4]

Secretary Andrew Gonzalez of DECS disclosed to the Senate Committee that it was De Castro who was lobbying for the release of the PhP 200 million for the textbooks.^[4]

On November 20, 2008, the Sandiganbayan ordered the arrest of Maslog, Arenas, and Guiang.^[1][5]

In 2019, Maslog's lawyers submitted her alleged death certificates dated November 18, 2019 to the Sandiganbayan, moving to have the case Dismissed.^[6][7]

On October 16, 2020, in a 45-page decision, the Sandiganbayan found Aranas and Guiang guilty, sentencing them to 6 years and 1 month minimum or 10 years maximum imprisonment.^[8] On January 1, 2021, the Sandiganbayan released a decision that Aranas and Guiang will face imprisonment of 10 years, and permanently disqualified to hold public office. Maslog avoided conviction as the case against her was dismissed in view of the submission of her death certificates.^[7] On January 29, 2021, the Sandiganbayan rejected a Joint Motion for Reconsideration filed by Aranas and Guiang, upholding their conviction.^[9][10]

On March 3, 2022, the lawyers of Ernesto Guiang also submitted a motion to the Sandiganbayan for the dismissal of the case against their client as he had already died on June 21, 2021 in Tacloban.^[6][11]

Maslog in January 2025 was convicted of graft and sentenced to ten years of imprisonment.^[12] She remains detained at the National Bureau of Investigation facility in Muntinlupa.^[13]

Maslog escaped to the United States, remarried and took on the name Mary Ann Smith. Filipino journalist Ellen Tordesillas disclosed on June 2010 that Smith was caught in Seattle and was extradited to Memphis, Tennessee to face charges against her for wire fraud and mail fraud. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Department of Homeland Security-Office of the Inspector General investigated on complaints that Smith operated a scheme targeting immigrants who wanted to bring in relatives into the United States using students visa under a company named International Business Network (IBN), with Michael Smith as the CEO, and Mary Ann Smith as the Vice President. IBN claimed that they are associated with the US Citizen and Immigration Service Agency (USCIS), which denied this claim. Smith would charge US$6500 per applicant. Thirty-four victims fell for the scam with a total financial loss of US$359,270. The scheme even gave victims falsified documents from the Secretary of State. Smith pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment.^{[14][15][16][3][17]}

Maslog returned to the Philippines at a undetermined date after residing in the United States. She took up the identity of "Dr. Jessica Francisco". She filed a complaint against president Bongbong Marcos' former executive secretary Vic Rodriguez with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for alleged fraud. After the NBI failed to verify Maslog's provided information, she herself became the subject of investigation.^[18][19][20]

She was arrested on September 25, 2024 due to complaints filed by two individuals over fraud. Maslog allegedly introduced herself as Francisco and posed as a supplier of water systems and medical supplies in Bangsamoro.^[18] The NBI announced that Jessica Francisco's fingerprints matched with those of Mary Ann Maslog.^[21]