NBI-NCR now handling Failon case

MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has transferred the supervision of the probe on the death of ABS-CBN news anchor Ted Failon’s wife from the Special Task Force (STF) to its National Capital Region (NCR) Division.

Lawyer Ricardo Diaz, NBI spokesman and also chief of the Anti-Terrorism Division (ATD), confirmed that the probe on the death of Trinidad Arteche-Etong was transferred to the NCR Division but refused to explain why.

The lead investigating unit on the Failon case would now be the NCR Division headed by lawyer Edward Villarta, while the STF, headed by Arnel Dalumpines, would assist in the investigation into the death of Trinidad who was found with a gunshot wound to her head inside a bathroom of their house at No. 27 General Aquino St., Tierra Pura Subdivision in Tandang Sora, Quezon City, last April 15.

Failon (Mario Teodoro Failon Etong in real life) claimed that his wife committed suicide due to financial problems, but the police were still investigating if there was foul play. Even Trinidad’s relatives believe Failon’s claim, which was confirmed by the house helpers.

Trinidad died last Thursday night at the New Era General Hospital.

Diaz declined to state the reason why Dalumpines’ unit was replaced as the lead investigation unit. Dalumpines could not be reached for comment yesterday.

“He (Dalumpines) is still involved in the case but I will be the spokesman. As the head of the investigation, Regional Director Edward Villarta will be the one to lead the team,” said Diaz.

Diaz said the two divisions of the NBI – NCR Division and STF Division – are involved, but they would conduct a low profile investigation following a request from Failon to limit the release of news on developments on the case to avoid making the probe a media spectacle.

“We are not revealing what steps we are taking upon the request of Ted Failon (who said) it is becoming a media spectacle. We want this to be a professional investigation, not a spectacle,” stressed Diaz.

“We are requesting (the media) to give us space so we could work, and we could be able to give you new developments on the case. Sometimes, news is released even before any work is done,” he said.

Diaz said developments might happen on a day-to-day basis. “But we could not really expect what particular time of the day news will come out. On these developments, give us at least a couple of days for some developments to come. We just started yesterday (Wednesday),” he said.

He said the NBI already sent a request to the New Era General Hospital to turn over the clothes worn by Trinidad when she was brought to the hospital.

“Today, a team went to the New Era Hospital to request the authorities there to release the clothes of Trinidad Etong,” he said.

Diaz said Failon’s clothes are already with the NBI. The clothes of Failon and Trinidad will be tested for blood and gunpowder residues.

He said there was no breakthrough yet as of yesterday.

“We are doing it professionally. We would like to request everybody to just cooperate and we will refrain from announcing to everybody what we are doing, specially the details of what we are doing in the investigation. We got it (request for limited news coverage) from the lawyers so we will agree with them,” said Diaz.

He said there is a team that would go to the crime scene for the forensic examination.

“We are also requesting from the hospital not only the clothes, but also the personal belongings of the deceased. We are also requesting clinical records, doctors’ orders and any other records in the hospital,” said Diaz, adding that the request is a formal written request to the hospital.

QCPD prober talks to Gonzalez

A Quezon City police officer has talked to Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez and volunteered to provide information to the NBI on the initial phase of the investigation conducted by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on the death of Trinidad Etong.

Gonzalez said the policeman, whom he did not identify, visited him last Sunday night and revealed “a lot of things” that may be crucial to the case.

Gonzalez said he finds the “version of the story” of the police officer credible and consistent with one of the angles being pursued by investigators. But he refused to say whether this testimony was leading to the angle of suicide or parricide.

“I don’t want to talk about it because it might lead to prejudgment. I just referred him to the NBI,” he told reporters.

Gonzalez only revealed that the policeman was among those who first arrived at the house of the Failons after the incident and knows details about the blood traces and the “conversation” of Failon and one of the house helpers “regarding the getting of the key (to the bathroom where Trinidad was).”

“He wanted to elaborate what he had found and to help clear the situation because of conflicting stories coming out. He feels he was competent enough,” Gonzalez said.

Although he said it would be up to the NBI to appreciate the testimony of the policeman, although he believes the story of the officer could be crucial to the investigation.

“Police were the first ones to undertake the investigation. They had the first opportunity to visit the scene of the incident and interview the house helpers. I thought it was quite important. He was talking about the conversation of Failon and one of the housemaids regarding the getting of the key,” he added.

Gonzalez said he wanted the investigation to focus on whether Trinidad shot herself or was killed by another person.

He said the testimony of the policeman would be helpful in pursuing one of these angles.

Gonzalez had also ordered the NBI to include in their probe businessman Delfin Lee, a friend of Failon, and look into text messages that alleged that Lee helped Failon carry the body of Trinidad from the bedroom to the bathroom.

Lee, who owns the real estate firm Global Asiatique and reportedly owns some houses used in the Pinoy Big Brother show of ABS-CBN, was allegedly present in the house of the Failons at the time of the incident.

Lee had already denied the allegation and said he would cooperate with the investigators if he were invited for questioning.

Meanwhile, QCPD director Senior Superintendent Elmo San Diego urged his men not to be affected by criticisms in connection with the Failon case.

Chief Inspector Dorothy Du, chief of the QCPD Public Information Office, said there were concerns that the morale of the police could be affected by the controversy created by allegations of overkill in the manner they arrested the members of the Failon household in connection with the charges of obstruction of justice.

The QCPD had filed charges of obstruction of justice against Failon, his driver Glen Polan, houseboy Pacifico Apacible, nanny Wilfreda Bollester, housemaid Carlita Morbos, and Trinidad’s sister Pamela Arteche.

QCPD investigators said the house helpers cleaned the bathroom where Trinidad was found while the driver cleaned the Mitsubishi Pajero that was used to transport her to hospital. The house helpers claimed that they cleaned the crime scene on their own.

Investigators said Failon might have obstructed justice when he gave limited details to the authorities and refused to surrender his mobile phone.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno suspended six Quezon City police officers for allegedly applying excessive force in making the arrest.

Superintendent Franklin Moises Mabanag, chief of the QCPD-Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit; Superintendent Gerardo Ratuita, Senior Inspector Roberto Razon, Senior Police Officer 3 Jose Fernando, PO2 Andy Salonga, and PO2 Reno Riparip were placed on a 30-day preventive suspension.

The National Police Commission (Napolcom) and the PNP Internal Affairs Office will investigate the six policemen for alleged violation of police operational procedures.

Du said San Diego recently talked to operatives of the QCPD-CIDU.

“He (San Diego) urged them not to be affected by the criticisms as these are just part of doing our job as policemen,” Du said. - With Edu Punay and Reinir Padua