BECAUSE the decedent, Maria Concepcion Cabrera, was a resident and had interest in real property on Saipan, an administrator of the Estate of Jose Cruz Concepcion (Maria’s father), Antonio B. Cabrera, has filed for a petition for presumption of death.
According to the petition, Maria Concepcion Cabrera died in the Philippines on or about June 1, 1946, from leprosy after being transferred to the Culion Leprosy Colony in Palawan prior to World War II.
Her body was buried in a mass grave after the war and was never located or repatriated back to the Marianas, the petition stated.
The petition will allow the court to make findings of the facts required for the registrar to complete a presumptive death certificate for Maria Concepcion Cabrera pursuant to the statute and inherent authority of the court.
The Estate of Maria Concepcion Cabrera is an heir to the Estate of Jose Cruz Concepcion.
Maria’s parents were Saipan residents Jose Cruz Concepcion and Natividad Sablan Concepcion.
Maria was born on Saipan on July 17, 1912. On Feb. 9, 1933, Maria married Saipan resident Mariano Gumataotao Cabrera (also known as Mariano Taisague Cabrera and Mariano Gumataotao).
The couple moved to Guam in 1934 to work and start a family.
Maria gave birth to a son, Daniel Concepcion Cabrera, on Guam.
Upon information, and belief, Maria lived in Guam from 1937 to 1941.
Prior to World War II, Maria was diagnosed with leprosy, an infection caused by bacteria that affects skin and nerves. Soon thereafter, Maria relocated from Guam to be treated for leprosy at the Leprosy Colony in the Philippines.
She never returned from the Philippines to Guam or Saipan after World War II
It is believed that Maria died in the Philippines and her remains were buried there in a mass grave without any marker or gravestone.
Her remains were never exhumed or repatriated to the Marianas, the petition stated.
The petitioner was represented by attorney Joey P. San Nicolas.
Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho scheduled an evidentiary hearing for Aug. 3, at 10 a.m., and ordered the parties to provide a family tree and property information.
This is the fourth missing person case handled by Judge Camacho.
The other cases were: In Re the Matter of John Joseph Jones, Civil Action No. 19-0028, Order filed March 22, 2019; In the Matter of Honorio Ricky Encabo II, Civil Action No. 21-0082, Order filed July 7, 2021; and In Re Jianzhu Deng, Civil Action No. 22-0240, Order filed March 3, 2023.
