Gonzalez tells NBI to ignore rumors, stick to facts on Failon case

MANILA, Philippines – Justice Sec. Raul Gonzalez yesterday ordered agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) handling the probe of the death of ABS-CBN news anchor Ted Failon’s wife to ignore rumors and stick to the facts.

Gonzalez said he wants the NBI to be very selective in choosing the circumstances they would consider from the different stories on the death of Trinidad Arteche-Etong.

Trinidad was found with a gunshot wound to her head inside a bathroom of their houses on No. 27 General Aquino Street, Tierra Pura Subdivision in Tandang Sora, Quezon City last April 15.

Failon (Mario Teodoro Failon Etong in real life), a news anchor of ABS-CBN TV Patrol, claimed that his wife committed suicide due to financial problems, but the police were still investigating if there was foul play. Trinidad’s relatives believe Failon’s claim, which was confirmed by the house helpers. Trinidad died the next day at the New Era General Hospital.

Gonzalez said that wild rumors sometimes cloud the search for the truth.

“They say when there’s smoke, there’s fire. But we should not get carried away by those rumors which could cloud the investigation, just like prejudice,” he explained.

He said he had instructed the NBI to focus on two angles – suicide and parricide.

NBI investigators interviewed Failon’s house helpers but the probers refused to reveal details of their findings upon the request of Failon.

Lawyer Ricardo Diaz, NBI spokesman and chief of the Anti-Terrorism Division (ATD), said they have granted Failon’s request not to release the interviews to avoid making the incident a “media spectacle.”

“The purpose of the interview is for clarification and for new information. NBI probers started conducting re-interviews and this will supplement those that were earlier taken by the Philippine National Police (PNP),” said Diaz.

Diaz said Dr. Raquel Fortun, the private forensic expert hired by Failon, the medico legal officer of the PNP who conducted autopsy examinations and even the doctors who treated Trinidad will be invited for a medical case conference.

Businessman Delfin Lee already appeared at the NBI last week to give a statement and even submitted a video grab that would back his claim that he was not at the house of Failon at the time the incident occurred.

“He said there were many policemen at the house of Failon when he arrived there. He submitted a video grab that would back up his claim that he was in the office and not at the house of Failon at the time the incident occurred,” Diaz said.

The Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) reports, the autopsy report and the statements of Failon, the driver, and the house helpers have been turned over to the NBI, which took over as the lead agency upon order of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno.

NBI Director Nestor Mantaring earlier ordered the bureau’s National Capital Region (NCR) headed by Regional Director Edward Villarta to lead the investigation, replacing the Special Task Force (STF).

STF chief Arnel Dalumpines said the focus of the probe is the shooting incident and all angles would be looked into.

QC prosecutor to resolve Failon raps soon

Quezon city assistant prosecutor Mary Jane Pamitan would resolve the obstruction of justice charges filed against Ted Failon, his sister-in-law and the house helpers next week after both parties have submitted their reply and counter reply on the case.

Senior Superintendent Franklin Mabanag, suspended chief of the Quezon City Police District Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, told The STAR that the police would no longer submit a counter reply on the allegation of the camp of Failon that there was no obstruction of justice since the investigation of the case is ongoing.

The QCPD had filed charges of obstruction of justice against Failon, his driver Glen Polan, houseboy Pacifico Apacible, nanny Wilfreda Bollester, housemaid Carlota 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 the victim to the hospital. The house helpers claimed that they cleaned the crime scene on their own and Failon did not order them.

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

Failon and his lawyer filed yesterday their counter reply arguing that the investigation of the NBI on the death of Trinidad is still ongoing so there is no crime at this point in time.

“The investigation has not yet come out with their report on whether the death was suicide or parricide,” said Failon’s lawyer Alfred Molo after the hearing yesterday afternoon.

He said since there is no crime yet, there is no obstruction of justice.

But Mabanag said there in no need to prove a crime since there was a shooting incident and the police are mandated to determine the cause of the death of the person.

Mabanag also insisted that the alleged suicide letter was not written by Trinidad but by one of the house helpers.

“In fact, the NBI documents expert has considered it a questioned document,” he said. – With Perseus Echeminada