NBI report on Failon case delayed

MANILA, Philippines – The release of the final report of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on the death of the wife of ABS-CBN news anchor Ted Failon has been delayed.

NBI spokesperson Ricardo Diaz told the media last week that the final report was supposed to come out yesterday. But some of the reports on certain tests have not yet been given for evaluation, causing the delay.

“(We are) waiting for other criminalistics to be finished. Just wait for (release of the final) report. (There is) no date of release yet,” said Diaz in a text message to reporters yesterday.

Diaz refused to be interviewed further after reportedly being taken to task by Department of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez for supposedly talking too much on the death of Trinidad Arteche-Etong, wife of Failon whose real name is Teodoro Etong.

Gonzalez had criticized Diaz for allegedly giving out information on the case even before the investigation on the death of Trinidad has been finished.

Diaz was allegedly reprimanded for saying “all roads lead to suicide.”

Diaz, meanwhile, said they are basing their investigation on testimonies of witnesses, including that of Failon and their house helpers, on forensics, and results of “criminalistics,” which includes tests such as forensic chemistry, medico-legal, autopsy report, ballistics, tests on the gun fired, the shell, slug, and others, which are all backed up by evidence.

Diaz said that it came out in their investigation that the NBI and the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) reports are in agreement on their probes, including details on the trajectory of the bullet that killed Trinidad. – Sandy Araneta