Report on alleged police harassment in Failon case out Monday

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno is set to announce Monday the findings of a panel that probed the alleged use of excessive force by the Quezon City Police District in arresting the relatives and househelps of broadcast journalist Ted Failon. Puno will make the announcement Monday noon at a press conference in Camp Crame in Quezon City. He will be joined by National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa. Verzosa ordered the PNP-Internal Affairs Service to conduct a fact-finding probe into allegations that QCPD policemen used excessive force when they arrested the relatives and househelps of Failon. This was in connection with the death of Failon’s wife, Trinidad, from a fatal gunshot wound in the head Thursday night. Failon, Mario Teodoro Failon Etong in real life, said the wound was self-inflicted, but police probers said they are not discounting the possibility of a foul play. Failon’s househelps and some of his relatives were slapped with an obstruction of justice case after they cleaned the scene of the shooting, which was the bathroom of Failon’s residence in Tierra Pura Homes in Quezon City. “The investigation aims to determine whether the PNP personnel concerned acted in accordance with policy and procedures and whether or not their actions were justified," Verzosa said. In a phone interview, Police Director Jaime Tagaca, chief of the PNP-IAS, said they are expecting the result of the IAS investigation on Monday. “I have assigned the case to my men at the IAS-National Capital Region and they are expected to come up with the result tomorrow [Monday]," said Tagaca. - GMANews.TV