MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan, the Philippines’ anti-graft court, has once again denied bail to Mary Ann Maslog, a key figure in the 1998 textbook scam.
The court cited strong evidence and her history of evading legal proceedings, including fleeing the country and using false identities, as reasons for keeping her in detention.
Maslog, who was previously presumed dead in 2019, resurfaced last year, reigniting legal action against her.
Her reappearance prompted a renewed investigation into her involvement in the scam, which centers on allegations of corruption and fraud in a P24 million textbook deal.
The court’s denial of bail underscores the severity of the charges and Maslog’s previous attempts to evade justice.
The textbook scam, which dates back to 1998, involved allegations of bribery, overpricing, and the delivery of substandard educational materials.
Maslog is accused of orchestrating bribes to secure contracts that benefitted her and her associates at the expense of the country’s education system.
Maslog’s return to the public eye last year, after her supposed death, led to her arrest by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Authorities had been tracking Maslog under the alias “Jessica Francisco,” which she used to conceal her identity and evade capture.
In denying bail, the Sandiganbayan emphasized Maslog’s history of evading legal consequences, including using fake identities and fleeing the country.