suicide or foul play?

Whodunit? Police in a bind over shooting of Failon’s wife

04/15/2009 | 07:56 PM
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MANILA, Philippines - Quezon City homicide investigators on Wednesday night were digging deeper into the circumstances that led to the shooting of the wife of ABS-CBN TV Patrol news anchor Ted Failon after they received conflicting versions of the incident that occurred earlier in the day.

ABS-CBN TV Patrol’s Ron Gagalac on Wednesday night quoted a ranking police officer from the Quezon City Police District [QCPD] as saying that based on the investigators’ initial findings, it was Failon [Mario Teodoro Failon Etong ] who shot his wife Wednesday morning.

But Gagalac quickly cited another report by Superintendent Franklin Moises Mabanag, chief of the QCPD Criminal Investigation Detection Unit, that investigators are looking into the possibility that Failon’s wife tried to commit suicide.

Heated argument

The unidentified police officer reportedly said that Failon shot his wife Trina at the height of a heated argument inside the couple’s car. After the incident on Tandang Sora, Failon reportedly rushed Trina to the New Era General Hospital on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

The report said the hospital declined to disclose Trina’s condition. Gagalac quoted Dr. Salvador Corpuz, New Era medical director, as saying that Failon ordered the hospital not to give any information to the media about the incident.

The report said Trina’s relatives also declined to give any statement to the media, according to Corpuz.

Wife’s letter of apology

The report said Failon told Mabanag that Trina left their home in Tierra Pura Subdivision in Tandang Sora, Quezon City Wednesday night after the couple had an argument. Trina reportedly left a letter to Failon wherein she said that she was sorry.

According to Gagalac, Mabanag said that when Failon reported for work in the morning for his program over radio dzMM, Trina returned home. When Failon went home, he reportedly saw his wife lying with a wound in her head inside the room of the couple’s daughter. That was when Failon reportedly rushed his wife to the hospital.

Failon, who is now being investigated by the police, and is reportedly taking a paraffin test at his Tierra Pura home, issued a statement saying that he rushed Trina to the hospital after he saw his bloodied wife lying on the bathroom floor.

“Hindi ko tinapos ang aking programa sa dzMM kaninang umaga matapos kong makausap ang aking asawa sa telepono kaya umuwi ako kaagad at natagpuan kong nakakandado ang pinto ng banyo. Pinabuksan ko ang pinto at natagpuan ko ang aking asawa na duguan kung kaya’t tinakbo ko siya agad sa hospital," Failon said in a statement.

In an official statement, Bong Osorio, head of ABS-CBN’s corporate communications department, appealed to media and others to respect Failon’s privacy.

“We appeal to everyone to please respect the privacy of Mr. Ted Failon and his family. His wife is fighting for her life," the statement read. - MARK MERUEÑAS, GMANews.TV

this could support the suicide angle:

Bullet mark found in Failon bathroom during second search

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/157317/Bullet-...g-second-search

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv7Qv2j-Yk0

Some may prejudge that Ted had something to do with it but our own perceptions on this case are just plain speculations based on very very limited infos.

Ted Failon may be responsible but what if he is innocent? How would you feel when instead of getting expressions of sympathy for the lost of your own wife you are being suspected of being the killer? The interview w/ family members showed no single proof telling that Ted had something to do with the crime.

Let's all consider the wellbeing of Ted's family & give our respect to Ted by waiting for the result of the investigation.

My perception on this case based on very limited info is this;

Ted's wife got into a financial trouble. Maybe she entered into a multi-million deal and then somewhere somehow the money got squandered or lost or somewhat.

Now, Trina tells his husband about the case. Since, it involved a great deal of money the conversation degraded into a heated argument.

Trina left their home and Ted reported for work the next morning. Trina comes back while Ted was away. Trina made a note telling Ted how sorry she was about what happened the night before.

The problem might have been unbearable for Trina and she couldnt bear dragging Ted and the family with it. Then she shot herself. Ted went home and saw her bloodied wife and rushed her to the hospital.

Clues on why Ted may be innocent;

1) family members telling how close the two were.

2) Ted is rich and has a great career.

3) Ted is a big name in media and is running for Senator. Now, why would he ruined his name?

4) there's a bullet mark in the bathroom where Trina was found bloodied.

5) family members tell nothing about Ted's involvement in the death of his wife. This includes Trina's sister.

Failon case: Bullet trajectory casts doubt on 'suicide try' angle
04/16/2009 | 11:12 PM

Philippines – Investigators on Thursday said that the position of the bullet mark found in Ted Failon’s Quezon City residence casts doubt on claims that the broadcaster’s wife tried committing suicide.

The bullet mark – discovered at the back of the toilet bowl in the bathroom where Failon’s wife was found – indicated that the bullet’s trajectory was downward, according to Superintendent Franklin Moises Mabanag, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit of the Quezon City Police District.

In most suicide cases, those who shoot themselves in the head would hold the gun in such way that the bullet slug would travel upward, not downward.

In the case of Failon’s wife, Trinidad Etong, the bullet entered through her left temple, exited through her right temple, and ricocheted to the toilet bowl, indicating a downward path of the bullet.

Mabanag shared the observation on Thursday with reporters at Camp Karingal in Quezon City.

When asked to go on air for a radio interview, Mabanag reportedly declined, saying that the QCPD director, Senior Superintendent Elmo San Diego, was the one with the authority to talk about the Failon shooting incident.

The trajectory would seem to jibe with an earlier finding by investigators that the wound on Trinidad’s head showed a smudging that suggested that the shooting did not involve a close contact of the gun muzzle on the temple.

The bullet mark was found inside the bathroom at the second floor of the Etong residence only on the second day of investigation, when investigators trooped back to the house to gather more evidence.

"Nagkaroon ng duda ang mga SOCO [Scene of the Crime Operations] natin na hindi iyon ang pinangyarihan, so bumalik sila. Sinuwerte naman at nakita naman ang hinahanap nila," San Diego said in another radio interview. "At least this time its definite na iyon ang area of incident. Very specific kami na doon talaga nangyari iyon."

["SOCO doubted that the shooting happened there in the bathroom. Fortunately, they found what they were looking for. At least, this time it's definite that it was the area of incident. We're very specific that was really where it happened."]

Not yet established

But San Diego clarified that despite the latest findings, the police could not yet establish whether someone else could have shot Trinidad.

"Hindi pa natin ma-reconstruct iyong scene dahil sa ginawa nilang paglilinis [We still cannot entirely reconstruct the scene because of the cleaning]," San Diego said.

The police official was referring to Failon’s driver and housemaids’ cleaning up the bloody mess produced by the shooting.

Police said four members of the Failon household and even Failon himself could be charged with violation of Presidential Decree 1829, or obstruction of justice.

The housemaids and the driver said they cleaned up Failon’s vehicle and bathroom on their own volition and for fear that Failon’s young daughter might see blood in the house.

"Tama siguro ang kasambahay na wala silang malisya. Tama iyon. Pero ignorance of the law excuses no one," San Diego said. "May problema pa rin iyon. Kasi sabi ng batas hindi mo galawin. You have to preserve the integrity of the scene of incidents for purposes of further investigation."

["Maybe the helpers are right in sayiing that they had no malice. But ignorance of the law excuses no one. The problem remains. You can't do that. You have to preserve the integrity of the scene of incidents for purposes of further investigation."]

Police said Failon could have obstructed justice for failing to report the shooting incident to police. Medical doctors at the New Era General Hospital – where Trinidad was rushed – were the ones who alerted police about the incident.

"He [Failon] has to answer for that fact. Bakit hindi niya ini-report? Dahil sa batas, kapag may nangyaring ganito at dinala mo sa ospital dapat ire-report mo iyan," San Diego said.

["He has to answer for that fact. Why didn't he report it? Under the law, when something like this happens and you bring a victim to a hospital you have to report it."]

Failon tested negative for gunpowder burns. Paraffin test results for the other household members have yet to be released.

The QCPD-CIDU earlier said it would also conducti a paraffin test on Trinidad.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/157373/Failon-...icide-try-angle

This is inconclusive. What if she indeed positioned the gun a little farther from her temple. The angle (downward) is also possible. Not being upward does not conclude that it's not a suicide.

It is not impossible to do such thing kasi your instinct is to prevent the kids from seeing the gruesome scene. Nonetheless, questionable indeed.

Ikaw kaya mamatayan ng asawa at sikat ka?

Magawa mo kaya na makatawag agad sa pulis kung nakita mo na grabe tama ng asawa mo?

Siyempre uunahin mo na "itakbo" siya sa ospital kaysa makipagtsismisan sa pulis.

By the way, in all this, i am seeing the mediocrity of the PNP men here.

Instead of protecting the wellbeing of the people involved, they made their own allegations and even divulge to the media their destructive statements.

It is best that cops make a thorough investigation first before making statements.

Nagmumukhang biased at walang alam yung mga pulis. Walang professionalism. Huwag naman sana ganyan. Nakakasira ng imahe ng PNP.

Failon charged; wife dies

Family at bedside; Ted charged with obstruction

By Nikko Dizon, Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:05:00 04/17/2009

Filed Under: Media, Celebrities, Police, Crime and Law and Justice

MANILA, Philippines—When it rains, it pours—and it’s pouring for broadcaster Ted Failon, whose wife succumbed to a gunshot wound in the head Thursday night even as he himself was charged with obstruction of justice.

Failon’s wife of 25 years, Trinidad Etong, 44, died at 8:50 p.m. in the intensive care unit of New Era General Hospital in Quezon City, where she was brought after a bullet was fired to her temple on Wednesday.

Failon said his wife had attempted to kill herself.

Dr. Adonis Gascon said the cause of death was “penetrating head injury secondary to gunshot wound and multiple organ failure.”

Doctors tried to revive her for 15 minutes by applying electric shocks, he said.

Failon and his two daughters were asked whether the doctors should continue with the emergency procedure, and they agreed to have it terminated upon seeing that the patient had “flat-lined,” Gascon said.

Gascon said the family broke down and wept. An hour later, Failon appeared calm, but the daughters remained inconsolable, the doctor said.

Earlier, at around 8:15 p.m., Delfin Lee, a friend of Failon’s, told reporters that doctors had started performing “emergency treatment” on Trina after a drop in her blood pressure.

“She took a turn for the worse at around 8:30 or earlier,” Gascon said.

Quiet, plain housewife

Etong’s death, Lee said, came as a shock.

“She’s the last person you would think would take her own life,” he said.

Lee described the deceased as a “quiet, plain housewife, very simple and low profile.”

As Ted earlier told him, Trina was educated as a nurse but she never got to practice.

They were “not demonstrative as a couple, hindi pa-cute,” said Lee, who said he has been friends with the Etongs for the last eight years.

“One thing I can attest to is that despite Ted’s bravado image, he is a doting father, responsible husband and a very good breadwinner.”

Dealer in health drinks

He said Ted had taught Trina to put up her own business to keep herself busy. She was able to put up a small venture—as a dealer of soya health drinks.

“From what I know, the couple had no major fight, until lately about finances,” Lee said. “I know for a fact that Ted entrusted his savings and salaries with Trina.”

Lee said friends often would teasingly ask Ted if he was still asking his wife for his daily allowance.

As a mother, Trina was “close to her daughters.”

In his view, the Etong daughters seemed closer to their mother than to their father “because she stayed at home.”

It was also Trina who personally supervised the construction of the Etongs’ house in Tierra Pura subdivision, he said.

Lee recalled last paying a visit to the Etongs during their house blessing last year.

Immigration watch list

Hours earlier, Failon was ordered placed on the Bureau of Immigration’s watch list purportedly at the request of one of his in-laws.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez issued the directive to Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan, saying Failon was “under investigation for obstruction of justice in relation to the frustrated murder investigation of his wife.”

“This request for inclusion in the bureau’s watch list order is made pursuant to a request by a relative of the victim whose identity is confidential pending further investigation,” the directive read in part.

Libanan signed the order to put Failon on the watch list Thursday afternoon, according to bureau spokesperson Floro Balato.

If Failon attempts to leave the country, law enforcement or court authorities will have to be notified, Balato said.

Comatose

Gascon said earlier that Etong had been in very critical condition and had become “comatose.” Although her blood pressure had improved, she remained hooked to a ventilator.

Asked if Etong’s improving blood pressure indicated that the mother of two would survive, Gascon said: “With the kind of injury she has ... she suffered from a penetrating head injury... the chance is not zero but quite slim.

“The chance to be alive is less than 5 percent.”

Paraffin test

Supt. Franklin Moises Mabanag, head of the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, returned to the hospital Thursday morning to conduct a paraffin test on Etong. He left after some 20 minutes without speaking to reporters.

Another police team attempted to conduct the test at 7 p.m. but doctors and Etong’s family blocked the examination, Lee said.

Security was tight at the hospital and reporters were barred from entering the premises.

Senior Insp. Roberto Razon said policemen had been assigned to secure the area and that Failon’s relatives were gathered outside the ICU where Etong was confined. With reports from Kristine Alave and Dona Z. Pazzibugan

[URL=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090417-199830/Failon-charged-wife-dies]
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadl...arged-wife-dies[/URL]

My sincerest condolence to Ted's family for the loss of Trina.

Failon, 5 others slapped with obstruction of justice charges
04/17/2009 | 12:08 AM

MANILA, Philippines – The Quezon City Police on Thursday night finally filed obstruction of justice charges against ABS-CBN news anchor Ted Failon (Teodoro Etong) and five others.

Superintendent Franklin Mabanag, chief of the Quezon City Police District criminal investigation unit, said Failon’s house helpers Pacifico Apacible, Carlota Morbos, Wilfreda Bolliser and Glen Palan were charged for cleaning the crime scene where the newscaster’s wife Trinidad allegedly shot herself last Wednesday.

The newscaster’s sister-in-law, Pamela Arteche, was included as co-accused because she refused to have Trinidad undergo paraffin test.

Failon was charged for his failure to immediately report the incident to police and for "disturbing" the crime scene.

The gun, which was allegedly used in the shooting, passed hands, according to investigators, making it hard for the police to reconstruct the crime scene.

“The firearm was taken by Glen, and it was passed to Ted. All of these were removed from the crime scene so we are hard up in reconstructing how the victim was positioned thereat, including the place of the slugs and the empty shells," said Mabanag.

The lawyer of the accused would post bail on Friday.

On Wednesday, investigators were greeted with an already “cleaned up" scene of the incident. The bathroom where Failon's wife was reportedly found turned up spotless. Even the vehicle used to rush her to the hospital had also been scrubbed.

According to police investigators, Failon’s house maids admitted cleaning the bathroom, while Ponan removed the blood stains in the Pajero vehicle.

Failon's wife, Trinidad Etong, died at the New Era General Hospital at 8:50 p.m. Thursday.

Trinidad’s remains were brought to a funeral home shortly before midnight Thursday. - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/157379/Failon-...justice-charges

This is their biggest mistake and this is fueling the allegation that there's a foul play.

The paraffin test on Trinindad will confirm if Trinidad indeed shot herself.

If the test is negative, then it points to another person as the shooter.

Pamela should undergo paraffin test as well.

palpak na naman ang QCPD, ang daming lapses, contaminated na tuloy ang crime scene!

saka sobrang dependent sa paraffin tests eh debunked na yan as effective evidence!

Agree, even if there's foul play, it would just come to naught due to the sloppy handling of the police.

Just like the Alabang boys drug case, this will just be dismissed due to a technicality.

Failon daughter defends pa: There’s no crime


By Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:01:00 04/17/2009

Filed Under: Crime and Law and Justice, Suicide, Family, Celebrities, Media


Most Read Other Most Read Stories x

MANILA, Philippines—The elder of two daughters of TV personality Ted Failon Thursday angrily disputed accusations her father was involved in the shooting of her mother, Trinidad Etong.

In an interview over dzMM radio, 16-year-old Kaye said her father was not at home at the time of the shooting.

“It is one big sham to show that Papa is a suspect,” said Kaye in Pilipino. “It is not possible that Papa is at fault in what happened to Mama.”

Kaye said she was in Cebu Wednesday morning and that upon hearing of the incident, she flew back to Manila immediately and went home straight to her father who was under police custody, before even seeing her mother who was fighting for her life.

Kaye studies film at the American-run International Academy of Film and Television in Cebu.

She defended her father’s leaving Camp Karingal Thursday morning to visit Etong at the New Era Hospital in Quezon City.

Self-inflicted wound

“We asked properly for permission to leave. Papa did not escape. I pleaded that I had not seen my mother since I came back,” she said.

Kaye said that what her father said in his statement to police investigators was the same version Failon told her.

“It was a self-inflicted incident. Isn’t it that you’re innocent till proven guilty?” she said. “Everything in his statement was everything he told us.”

Kaye said her sister Karishna did not even know of the shooting.

“How would I tell that to a 12-year-old?” she asked, her voice breaking.

It’s all about money

Kaye earlier asked for prayers for the speedy recovery of her mother, who she said had financial problems. (Her mother succumbed to a gunshot wound in the head at 8:50 p.m. Thursday.)

“It’s all about money. That’s the big problem of my mother that she could not reveal,” Kaye said. She did not elaborate.

As to the farewell note purportedly from Etong, Kaye said she knew her mother’s handwriting well enough to know that it really came from her, including the use of “po,” a term of respect in Filipino.

She lashed out at people who she said were making a joke of the family tragedy. She referred specifically to police officers who were laughing and were posing for pictures as Failon was taking his paraffin test for gunshot burns.

“I knew I had to be by my father’s side as soon as possible because no one was with him when the police came.”

What case?

She said she and her father were made to wait three hours for a single signature before dawn Thursday until Public Attorneys Office chief Persida Acosta came for them.

“What case? There’s no warrant, no crime has been committed,” Kaye said.

The tragic fate that befell her mother, Kaye said, was something unexpected.

“I didn’t think it would happen to us,” she said.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadl...Theres-no-crime

Failon's wife told close friends of suicide plan


abs-cbnNEWS.com | 04/17/2009 6:37 PM

A major financial problem pushed Trinidad "Trina" Arteche-Etong, wife of broadcaster Ted Failon, to commit suicide, two of her close friends said on Friday.

Speaking to ABS-CBN News in Greenhills, San Juan, two of Trina's close friends, Joy Tan and Jackie Bartolome, said that just this month she confessed to them that in three years, she used up all the money the Etong couple put in a time deposit account amounting to millions of pesos.

They said Trina did not divulge any more details about the problem, but this problem, the two friends believe, led their friend to take her life.

The two friends, who have known the couple for ten years, said that the confession came after they noticed that the usually jolly Trina appeared to have become depressed.

They also said that Etong had on several occasions told them that she would commit suicide, but they did not take those threats seriously, since they saw her as a religious person.

"Gusto na niyang magpakamatay, pero naalaala niya na graduation pala ni Karishma (Trina and Ted's youngest daughter) noong April 4 kaya after na lang daw," Lim recounted.

On the day before the incident, Trina visited her, and she advised Trina to tell Ted the truth. However, she insisted she felt very ashamed for what she had done to their savings.

"'Pag nawalan daw kasi ng trust sa kanya, mabuti pa mamatay na lang siya," Lim recounted.

Joy and Jackie also said they are disappointed that Trina's husband is "seemingly" being pinned down by police as the prime suspect in her death.

"Naiinis at galit kami sa pulis. Walang foul play dito. Mahal ko si Trina kaya hindi pupwedeng pagtakpan si Ted kung may kinalaman siya, pero wala talaga," Bartolome said.

They said that in the ten years they have known the couple, they have never seen Ted hurt anyone in his family physically or verbally.

They are hoping that their revelations would dispel any doubts or rumors behind Trina's death.

They also repeatedly told ABS-CBN News that they have no motive to lie or cover up anything or anyone by their revelations. -- With a report from Jing Castañeda, ABS-CBN News

as of 04/17/2009 8:17 PM

http://abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila...ds-suicide-plan

QTV: Arresting officer in Failon case relieved from duty

04/17/2009 | 09:37 PM

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ABS-CBN's coverage of the whole thing: one of the reasons why the Lopez-owned network should never be trusted by the people- VERY BIASED, NO OBJECTIVITY AT ALL.

Ted is among the top news anchor of ABS-CBN.

So, what do we expect, especially when other stations are being biased as well.

Their presentations put it as if Ted is really guilty. Even the cops are biased. They are even chuckling while Ted was undergoing paraffin test. Ted's daughter heard those chuckles.

If I own ABS-CBN, i would do the same in protecting the reputation of my company and the wellbeing of my people.

It would be worse if ABS-CBN will simply leave Ted fighting for his family and reputation alone. Anyway, Ted, just like any other suspect is innocent until proven guilty.

Moreover, at this stage of the investigation, all leads point to the conclusion that Ted is innocent.

What is happening with our police officers, are they really this clueless?

According to my brother who is a lawyer, warrantless arrest for obstruction of justice can only be effected if the perpetrator is caught in the act of committing the offense.

Which means, the cops should have only arrested Failon's driver without warrant while in the act of cleaning the vehicle that brought the victim to the hospital.

The powers that be (be it military, business, or goverment). Rule is keep my mouth shut. I've been a victim too so many years ago. Just somebody from the business sector. If I were not INK I should have gotten even. I say to myself NO. So the rule is mind our own business.



banned for repeated forum violations

The problem there is that the way they conducted the investigaton was IMPROPER.

It wasnt done professionally.

They treated Ted and the relatives as "convicted" criminals and not merely suspects.

This mess would not have come to this point wherein the public is now mad at the cops had the QCPD handled the matter professionally and treated the suspects with approperiate respect considering that it is their loved one who was the victim and that their first statements ruled out murder already.

It should serve as a reminder and stern warning for all law enforcers that they must perform their duties by the book and must at all times respect the rights of the people.

Moreover, they must be open-minded about the case. The people being suspected of the crime are very close relatives of the victim. All of them claimed that there's no foul play. That should have been enough for the cops to heed.

But as it seems they closed their minds and it seemed like they have another agenda in treating Ted's family that way.

With due respect to the QCPD cops involved, let's all take this case as a wake-up call and let's LEARN FROM THIS.

this will blow up in their faces and yes even if indeed a crime was committed, wala rin, dismissed due to technicality - na naman, because of improper police procedures.

:headbang:

It was not the procedure of the investigation that had gone wrong. It was the attitude of the personnel who conducted the investigation who lacked diplomacy in dealing with the situation where the immediate or close relatives and household help are the first focus of the investigation. While it is true that the victim's family were under difficult times of their lives and on the grieving process for the death of a love one, does'nt mean that the police will loosen their immediate view of the environment given the circumstances that there was no immediate suspect and the public status of Mr. Failon.

The fact that the crime scene was already interfered with by cleaning the spot where the bloodied body of the victim was lying by the family members, would justify the police's aggressiveness in dealing with the investigation as it will arouse partial suspicion that the victim was shot by someone from the household circle, and they are in the tight process of working it out on whether the victim committed suicide right on the very scene of the crime.

For as long as there were no physical injuries inflicted by the police in dragging the family members including Mr. Fallon to face the investigation, their sin is only over-enthusiasm and lack of sound diplomacy on dealing with the situation. This is the area where the police should learn in the training on how to deal with an investigation similar to the one at issue.

If I were a part of the investigators, the hostile attitude of the Failons would add aggressiveness of the investigators to decisively put pressure on them to co-operate in a very instant manner while everything is still fresh to ferret out the right suspect and justice to the victim. At the end of the day, justice for all to include the surviving family.

Yes, indeed. It's on the manner the investigation was conducted.

It made it all looked so wrong.

That would have given reason for the added aggressiveness but still.....

But in fairness to the cops, and all the rest of our law enforcers, let's all learn from this and prevent the repeat of such "unprofessional" approach in dealing with SUSPECTS.

They must as well remember that a "suspect" is seen by law as innocent until proven guilty.

In summary, the cops and other law enforcers must all heed this line;

" Sound Diplomacy "

cleaning the bathroom is fishy to me no matter what the reason specially that the owner of the house is not an illiterate ignoramus but a famous media-news personality at that. secondly the news is focused too much on the so-called police brutality instead of how she died and why? no blood and injuries happened when the police barged in so whats the big deal ? its as if filipinos dont know already about the style of a 3rd world police like the PNP. thats old news. Focus of the news should go back to how she died and why. bakit ba, too much skeletons in the closet? maybe, if the public finds out the root cause of this death, its too embarassing?

But common sense tells that Ted is innocent unless our own twist of prejudice against Ted is taking precedence.

Look. Ted's kids, the household helps, Trina's sister herself, as well as the signs that Trina considered suicide as a solution even before the incident that have been revealed by Trina's friends as well as her sister indicated that it was indeed a suicide. It is also stated in the "suicide letter".

Isnt that enough?

Of course we have to let the investigators find out the whole story.

BUT TREATING THEM AS IF THEY WERE GUILTY ALREADY AT THIS POINT IN TIME IS VERY VERY INAPPROPRIATE.

Instead of giving Ted and his family the chance to utilize their time staying with Trina at the crucial moments, they made the whole situation a lot more burdensome for the families.

If one cant understand that, then that person must try to put himself or herself into Ted's shoe.

If he can't still understand the whole thing, then what's wrong is not the case or Ted but the way we look at the case.

As fo the cleaning up of the pool of blood, Ted has already explained his reason.

And believe me, at times when things like this happens to you. You arent sure of what you are doing. You will not act as open-minded or alert as when you are in a normal situation. I know because I've experienced that.

Just my explanation on this though. No offense meant to you, brother.

it doesn't matter what Failon , the relatives and the househelp tell the media, the police still have to do the required investigative work. the fact that the bathroom was cleaned no matter what the reason just made the police suspicious simply because the police just cannot ignore the very act of cleaning the bathroom. why was the bathroom cleaned? of course, failon already gave his side, but its the police job to look at all the angles as to why it was cleaned, why and how did she die. evidence comes from interviewing everybody, physical evidence, timeline, etc.

actually, there's no argument on the legality of the investigation as well as the questioning of the family members.

what made it wrong is the manner in which they performed the investigation.

just like Sir TOPP's explanation the cops got over-zealous and they failed to consider using a more humane treatment of the suspects.

they completely ignored the fact that these are close relatives of the victim and that they, from the beginning, have ruled out foul play already.

the PNP has been known for that =) you can imagine what they do to ordinary people. the good thing is that hopefully. the PNP will get more sensitivity training

Based on the facts so revealed, we have grounds to believe that the death of Mr. Failon's wife was seemingly suicide and involved no foul play. In all likelihood, she must have lost a huge sum of money investing in the networking game for a Vita product and she was not up to face the music.

The negative paraffin test (test questioned by the Supreme court in the Pp. vs. Claudio Tehankee Jr. in a murder case) for powder burns in her hands at the ICU proved nothing. For it has been 48 hours since the suicide and the comatose body had been thoroughly cleansed to ensure no infection occurs while at the ICU, prompting dud results in the paraffin test.

The wild theory that Mr. Failon and his wife had an altercation inside their car causing the former to shoot the victim and to transfer the body to the bathroom to create a "suicide"scenario is one of those immediate possibilities that at the end would be proven
otherwise in the course of investigation. We should remember that in the art of investigation, all minute things although it sound irrelevant should be taken into account as it sometimes can blow up the whole truth of the matter. That in hindsight it should not be considered an issue against the police who handled the investigation.

The problem with some PNP offices like that one in Quezon City is that hardly anyone believes at them even if sometimes they may be straightforward or be armed with good intentions. Credibility and reverence are at rock bottom for some law enforcers that people literally run away from rather than consult them (cops) when tragedy occurs. And sometimes to the point of hostility as in this tragic incident of the Failon family.

In case of Failon it is possible that people may even become more apprehensibve about seeking police help for fear that they get the same treatment.

THE PNP MUST NOW STUDY THE CASE CAREFULLY.

THEY MUST WIN THE SYMPATHY OF THE PUBLIC SO THE LATTER WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO COOPERATE MORE.

They must at all times display PROFESSIONALISM and SOUND DIPLOMACY and never act as if they are gods, thugs or warlords when dealing with any investigation.

All these police task mess up is the result of unprofessionalism albeit the basics of investigation have been fulfilled.

The field of crime investigation is the area of police task that requires the knowledge of human psychology especially in times where people who are material to the investigation are still in a state of emotional distress as a consequence of an incident.

In the case of the death of Mrs. Failon, the basics of police investigation was unarguably observed by the cops but it lacked in-depth professionalism.

As the common adage says: "LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS DANGEROUS" moreso if associated with over-enthusiasm.

It’s suicide–NBI


By Ramon Tulfo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:58:00 05/14/2009

Filed Under: Ted Failon


THE FINDINGS of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on the death of Trina Etong, wife of famous broadcaster Ted Failon: It’s suicide.

Etong had suicidal tendencies, according to Dr. Rommel Papa, NBI psychiatrist.

Papa based his findings on interviews with Etong’s close friends and relatives to whom she confided her thoughts days and weeks before she died, NBI insiders told this columnist.

Trina Etong was despondent over financial problems, her close friends and relatives told the NBI.

NBI handwriting experts also found that the controversial note that purportedly asked for her husband’s forgiveness was in Trina’s own handwriting.

There were speculations the note was written by one of the maids to cover up a parricide allegedly committed by Ted Failon.

Failon should now stop worrying that the government was getting back at him for his adverse commentaries against the Arroyo administration.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadl.../Its-suicideNBI

And that was it.

May she rest in peace. :sad2:

NBI says its suicide. Ted Failon is exonerated.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/162213/Ted-Fai...I-findings-show

There was no exoneration because he was not charged in court. It was a great relief for Mr. Fallon that suspicions against him did come to an end.

So what is the correct terminology sir topp? Cleared?

:aberet:

6 cops on Failon case relieved, suspended


By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 15:15:00 06/22/2009

Filed Under: Police, Ted Failon, Human Rights, Crime


MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) Six police officers were relieved from their posts and suspended for six months for “grave misconduct” over their handling of the investigation into the death of the wife of broadcaster Ted Failon, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said.

The six officers are: Superintendents Franklin Moises Mabanag and Gerardo Ratuita, Chief Inspectors Cherry Lou Donato and Enrico Figueroa, Senior Inspector Roberto Razon Sr. and Inspector Erlinda Garcia.

Mabanag was relieved as chief of the District Mobile Force while Ratuita was relieved as head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit of Quezon City. All six officers are assigned with the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).

Meanwhile, charges against Superintendent Marcelino Pedrozo, Senior Police Officer 2 Jerry Abada and Police Officer 2 Joycelyn Marcelo were ordered dropped for insufficiency of evidence, Puno said.

A National Police Commission (Napolcom) investigation found the six police officers guilty of violating police operational procedures on proper arrest, seizure, and search during the arrest of Etong’s relatives at the New Era Hospital and from the Failon home.

Failon’s wife, Trinidad Etong, was found with a gunshot wound to her head in the bathroom of their Quezon City home in mid-April. The National Bureau of Investigation ruled her death as a suicide.

“Everybody [should] adhere very strictly to provisions of existing law, including the reading of Miranda rights. They undergo training and are expected to remember what they learned during their training,” Puno said.

Commotion ensued between police and the relatives of Failon when the latter resisted police arrest on charges of obstruction of justice.

“It is disappointing that we have violations of these police operational procedures among high ranking officers,” Puno said.

Napolcom Vice Chairman Eduardo Escueta said the six officers violated operational procedures for arresting the relatives of Failon without a warrant.

“In this case there was no basis for warrentless arrest. In fact, the lack of basis was so glaring that even the prosecutor’s office of Quezon City made a very clear determination that there was no legal basis for the charge of obstruction of justice,” Escueta said.

“But the worst thing is they denied the suspects arrested with the right to counsel,” Escueta said.

He said that investigation revealed the police officers “warded off rather recklessly” one of the lawyers of the Failon camp in the hospital.

“We were unhappy about the way the entire group behaved in the hospital, where they actually went and accosted the relatives of the deceased, the then recuperating Mrs. Failon,” Puno said.

Puno said that as punishment, in the future, the six officers will be deployed into “field service.”

“In their subsequent assignments after their suspension, we will not look favorably into their re-entry into police service. Perhaps they are better suited in service with the fields, like mobile group where direct contact with community is not that often and not that sensitive,” Puno said.

Although Failon’s camp welcomed the Napolcom decision, Lawyer Arnold Perez said it would be better if the six officers were demoted or even dismissed from the service.

Nevertheless, he said Failon’s camp respected the decision of the Napolcom.

Perez said the Failon camp was studying the filing of criminal charges against the six officers, for failing to read the Miranda rights to the accused, arbitrary detention, perjury, and coercion.

Escueta said the Napolcom decided not to dismiss or demote the officers because of “mitigating circumstances.”

“We took note of the argument of the respondents that when they had to arrest, they were doing so on the basis of lawful orders and they were merely complying with duty and these are bemedalled officers,” Escueta said.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/...ieved-suspended


What happened to the cops is something that we can be happy about.

Nonetheless, this is a wake-up call to all our law-enforcers.

They must at all times respect the rights of the civilians no matter how grave the vase is.

Emotions must not overcome professionalism and rule of law.

In this modern times, professionalism amongst our law enforcers shall serve as their defense against these unfortunate circumstances.

Respect the rule of law and you will be a lot safer from the hands of justice.

Yep, cleared or absolved from suspicion. Therefore he is no longer a suspect for as long as no newly discovered evidence will crop up against him. :thumb:

I heard from my fellow Canadians that Ted Failon is back to work. It's good he was able to recover quickly.