Ted Failon admits having long rift with his in-laws

MANILA, Philippines — Grieving news anchor Ted Failon (Mario Teodoro Failon Etong) on Wednesday admitted during his eulogy for his wife, Trina, that he had a long-standing rift with his in-laws. In an emotional outburst that surprised mourners, Failon challenged his wife’s relatives to take the responsibility of raising his youngest daughter, 12-year-old Karishma, as he proposed to end his life by shooting himself on the head. “Kung gusto po ninyo at kaya po ninyong palakihin si Karishma, dahil 'pag umuuwi ho ako sa bahay ko, lalo na 'ho pag nag-iisa ako, minsan po iniisip ko eh, ito na po yata ‘yung pinakamabilis na solusyon sa problema ngayon – magbabaril ako sa ulo ko – kayo na po magpalaki kay Karishma," Failon said. [If you want and you can raise Karishma- because everytime I would go home, especially when I am alone, sometimes it would pass my mind that this would be the easiest way to end the problem – I would shoot myself in the head- you raise Karishma.] According to him, the rift has been going on for a very long time that even his mother died without talking to his wife. Well-known politicians Trina belongs to a family of well-known politicians in Leyte – the Arteches. The broadcaster revealed that he eloped with her when she was only 18 and in first year college. Trina never finished her studies, he said. But despite this, Failon said she was very proud because “kahit hindi siya nakatapos ng first year college talo daw niya ang kanyang mga kapatid na nakatapos ng kolehiyo pero siya po ang tumutulong." [Even if she was not able to finish college she’s better than her sibling who was able to finish their studies because she’s the one helping her family.] Trina was rushed to New Era General Hospital in Quezon City on April 15 after she was found lying in a pool of blood inside their house in Tierra Pura Homes, also in Quezon City. She died the next day in the same hospital. Her body was cremated Wednesday, April 22, at the Arlington Memorial Chapel crematory. Besides the suicide angle, police are also considering parricide because the scene of the incident and the car that was used to rush Trina to the hospital were all cleaned even before investigators could take a took at them. They also said that it was not Failon but the hospital that reported the crime. Belittled Failon denied having a hand in his wife’s death and blamed the police for getting back at him for his hard-hitting commentaries. Police downplayed Failon’s accusations, saying they were just doing their job. The broadcaster also expressed fears that since he was not in good terms with Trina’s family, those against him would cast doubt on his innocence. He added that some of Trina’s relatives could still not accept that the man they had belittled before was now the one providing assistance to them. With Trina’s demise, the broadcaster moved to end his rift with his in-laws. “Noon ko pa po gustong sabihin na kung maaari po maayos na po ang lahat ng gusto sa ating pamilya [I’ve been wanting to tell you this that I hope we could fix the misunderstanding in our family]," he said. He told them he felt the pain of Trina’s kin, but they should understand that the incident was more painful to him that anyone else. - GMANews.TV