Faking death.

In light of the reported death of a former DPWH Undersecretary, some voices — including Senate Minority Leader Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has urged Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla to ensure that the remains of former DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina “Cathy” Cabral were properly identified, stressing that while no one wishes to be insensitive if death has indeed been established, the involvement of billions of pesos in public funds makes independent validation both reasonable and necessary.

History explains why Filipinos remain cautious when a death abruptly ends accountability.

📚 The 1998 DepEd Textbook Scam — a real precedent

One of the most cited examples is of a ‘dead’ Mary Ann Maslog, a key figure linked to the 1998 Department of Education textbook scam, where hundreds of millions of pesos meant for public school textbooks were allegedly lost through anomalous procurement.

For years:

 • Maslog disappeared from public view

 • Her lawyers told courts she was already dead

 • The case stalled, reinforcing the belief that justice had been buried with her

But that story turned out to be false.

🔍 What happened next

Mary Ann Maslog, a key suspect in the 1998 DepEd textbook scam, later resurfaced under the alias “Jessica Francisco.”

Reports revealed that Maslog allegedly traveled to Indonesia, where she was said to have met with dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo.

After years of being believed dead, Maslog was recently detained by Philippine authorities in connection with another alleged scam, further highlighting how false identities and prolonged evasion can delay accountability.

Her fingerprints and records matched, and she was arrested, reopening long-dormant questions about:

 • Falsified records

 • Misrepresentation before the courts

 • How claims of death were used to delay accountability

The revelation shocked the public and became a lasting reminder that “closure” is not the same as truth.

⚖️ Why this matters today

No one is saying the current DPWH case is the same.

No one is accusing anyone of faking anything.

But when a senior public official tied to infrastructure, public funds, and unresolved issues dies under unclear circumstances, Filipinos remember 1998 — because they were told before to stop asking questions, only to learn decades later that skepticism was justified.

🧠 Two things can be true

 • The deceased deserves dignity and respect

 • The public deserves transparency, timelines, and verified facts

Asking:

 • Who was present?

 • What was the sequence of events?

 • What independent verification exists?

…is not disrespect. It is standard accountability, especially in public service.

Sen. Kiko is right: investigations must be evidence-based.

But history teaches us that silencing questions too early is how accountability disappears.

📌 Context is not conspiracy.

Questions are not accusations.

And the Mary Ann Maslog case proves why Filipinos remember.

#KikoPangilinan #FakeDeath #maryannmaslog #MariaCabral #DPWH #benguet