Lawyer: CamNorte guv's wife has battered woman syndrome

MANILA, Philippines — The wife of Camarines Norte Gov. Edgardo "Egay" Tallado showed signs of having battered woman syndrome after fleeing her home out of fear of her husband, her lawyer said Wednesday.

Lorna Kapunan, counsel of Josefina Tallado, said her client, who was earlier reported missing, went into hiding and traveled to Manila after her husband confronted her over a photo of his alleged mistress posted on Facebook.

Tallado allegedly carried a gun while berating Josefina for circulating the "compromising" photo, Kapunan said. Josefina, however, denied posting the image.

"Ang bottomline d'yan is the governor po has a mistress and has had a mistress for the last two years and lumabas ang picture ng mistress sa Facebook at sila ang binintangan, which is absolutely hindi totoo," Kapunan said in an interview on ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda.

Kapunan said that Josefina suffered for years living with an unfaithful husband and still bears symptoms of someone who has been abused.

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"Medyo natatakot pa, hirap na hirap pa, kasi nga traumatized nga siya. Ito ang isang classic case na battered woman syndrome," Kapunan said.

"Ilang taon na siya with the husband at nagtiis sa infidelity ng husband hanggang humantong sa heto na, may death threats na on herself and Darlene," the lawyer added, referring to Josefina's friend who accompanied her in her period of disappearance.

A weeping Tallado appeared on television earlier this week, saying his wife might have been kidnapped or have gone missing.

The Bicol police and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group also launched a tracking operation to find Josefina and Darlene, who surfaced on Wednesday granting media interviews to accuse the governor of infidelity and domestic abuse.

Kapunan said Tallado's anger was likely stirred due to embarrassment of his unnamed "mistress" over the leaked photographs.

"Kaya siya natatakot kasi she has never seen this in her husband," she said. - Camille Diola