DOJ asks NBI's help in probe of Failon wife shooting

MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will also look into the shooting of the wife of broadcaster Ted Failon (Teodoro Etong) in their house in Quezon City Wednesday. Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said Thursday that he ordered the NBI, which his department supervises, to join the probe but in a mainly supporting role. "Tama ang ginagawa ng PNP diyan dahil kanilang obligasyon ang imbestigahan, although I ordered the NBI to give support [I think the PNP is doing the investigation right so far. But I have ordered the NBI to give support]," he said in an interview on dzXL radio. On the other hand, Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) head Persida Acosta went to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit’s investigating room of the Quezon City Police where Failon was staying. A dzXL report said Acosta refused to talk to media on the purpose of her visit. For his part, new Quezon City Police District CIDU head Superintendent Gerardo Ratuita admitted they have much work ahead. Ratuita, in a separate interview, said that while they have taken statements from some members of Failon’s household, they still have to analyze these and other evidence gathered so far. "Actually di pa ho, kauumpisa lang ng investigation namin. Ang pagkukuha ng statement isa lang sa aspeto ng investigation. Itse-check pa natin ang paraffin, pag-aaralan ang dokumento, kasama ang lawyers ng PNP, para malaman kung meron bang basehan para i-hold siya o wala," he said in an interview on dzXL radio. [We’ve only just begun the investigation. Taking statements is just one aspect of it. We will still check the paraffin test results and look at the documents, then confer with PNP lawyers to see if there is basis to hold Failon or not.] He said that as of 7 a.m., Failon was considered "under police custody." Police got statements before dawn Thursday from members of Failon’s household over the shooting of Failon’s wife Trinidad. Radio dzBB’s Tuesday Niu reported that police allowed a helper of Failon to go home before 4 a.m., although Failon stayed at the CIDU as he was still waiting for a lawyer. Tight security The report said security was tight at the Quezon City Police Office’s CIDU where Failon and his household were asked to give statements. Security guards from ABS-CBN were also sent to the area to deal with members of media covering the incident, the report added. Police insisted Failon is not considered a suspect at this stage, and that they merely took statements from him and members of his household. A separate report by dzBB’s Louie Garcia reported one of Failon’s helpers narrated Failon returning to his house at Tierra Pura subdivision at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. She said that when they opened the door of the comfort room, they saw Trinidad in a sitting position, bloodied. Failon’s colleague Korina Sanchez went to the CIDU office but said she was there as an "observer" to "ensure nobody’s rights are trampled on." Sanchez also asked the public to refrain from speculating on the case. Failon ‘slips away’ Early Thursdays morning, Failon was reported to have slipped away from police custody to go to the hospital where his wife was confined. However, Ratuita dispatched teams to pursue Failon because, according to him, lawyers "smuggled" the broadcaster out of his office. "(Sinamahan) siya ng abogado, nag-uusap-usap ... Nagdispatsa kami ng tao para sundan sila [His lawyers escorted him out of my office supposedly so they can confer ... I have dispatched teams to go after them]," Ratuita said in an interview on dzXL radio. He said Failon had at least nine lawyers who went to his office at Camp Karingal. But Acosta, in an interview on Failon’s home station dzMM, said there was no such smuggling, even as she told police to refrain from arresting him "for humanitarian consideration." Acosta said she brought Failon and his daughter to the New Era General Hospital. She also said the female police investigator working on the case "allowed" them to leave the police office. "Wala namang kaso pa, buhay ng asawa at anak nag-iiyak ... Ang pulis investigator pinayagan ako dalhin sa hospial ang ama. Walang charge, walang kaso, wala akong tinatakas," she said. [Failon has not been charged. His wife is alive, his daughter was crying. Besides, the police investigator allowed us to leave. There is no charge filed, there is no case, so I am not smuggling anyone out.] Acosta said dzMM vice president Peter Musngi called her up before dawn Thursday and asked for help to notarize Failon’s statement. She said that while they were on their way to the hospital, Failon was weeping. Humanitarian consideration "Atorni, napakasakit ng nangyari, ang asawa ko nagpakamatay, anak ko ako nagaasikaso, said Acosta. [Attorney, what happened was very painful. My wife tried to take her own life and I am left alone to take care of my children.] When told that a police team is tracking down Failon, Acosta said, "for humanitarian consideration sana respetuhin ang situation ng pamilya niya [for humanitarian reason, the police should respect his situation.]" Ratuita said they need to question the broadcaster because he was the first one to see his wife’s body inside the comfort room, and because his handgun was the weapon used in the incident. "Pagpunta namin sa bahay malinis ang lugar [When we went to the house, the scene of the incident was cleaned up]," Ratuita added. Also, he cited a “conflict" between the statements of Failon and a member of his household, where Failon said Trinidad was in a lying position but the household member said she was in a sitting position. - GMANews.TV