House of Tallado wife’s friend ransacked

CAMARINES NORTE, Philippines – The police are investigating the reported ransacking last Monday in Vinzons town of the house of the friend of the wife of Camarines Norte Gov. Edgardo Tallado, who recently apologized for the controversy caused by sex photos that went viral on the Internet.

Lawyer Debbie Francisco, provincial tourism officer, reported to the police that still unidentified suspects ransacked the residence of her niece Darlene Mitchell Francisco, 21, in Barangay 3, Vinzons town.

The elder Francisco told investigators of Chief Inspector Domingo Sario that the suspects entered the empty house on Monday morning after breaking one of the windows.

The suspects were apparently searching for something and even left a note on a piece of paper with the message: ” (Don’t go home, you’re dead – Gov.) “

Police said there was no report of anything missing in the house.

Tallado’s camp denied the reported death threats and said they were possibly perpetrated by political opponents.

“Where can you find a case wherein you threaten to kill somebody and you will leave your name)?” one of Tallado’s supporters said in Filipino.

The governor’s lawyers are reportedly gathering evidence for the filing of charges against those who uploaded photos and video showing him having sex with a 24-year-old woman.

The sex scandal involving the governor broke out after his wife Josefina was reported missing.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is ready to probe the alleged sex video and photos of Tallado and his supposed mistress, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said yesterday.

De Lima said the bureau could trace the source of the original posts showing the sex video and photos and the person could be held liable under Republic Act 10175 or the Cyber Crime Prevention Act of 2012.

“The NBI has a cybercrime unit or division to do that. So if he (Tallado) wants to trace who uploaded (the video and photos) in the Internet, then the NBI cybercrime division can do that,” she said.

But De Lima explained that the governor would have to make a formal request to the NBI, which is under the administrative supervision of her department.

Roxas eyes liability

Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II ordered yesterday a study on the possible liability of Tallado in connection with the sex scandal.

Tallado’s alleged extramarital affair reportedly prompted his wife Josefina to hide out of fear of her husband’s threats after the governor accused her of leaking the sex photos on social media.

“Truth is this is the first time this happened so we’re studying accountability,” said Roxas in a press briefing yesterday at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City. – With Edu Punay, Cecille Suerte Felipe