NBI probe on Failon case leaning toward suicide

MANILA, Philippines - The investigation into the mystery surrounding the death of the wife of TV broadcaster Ted Failon is leaning toward suicide, officials from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Wednesday. NBI spokesman Ric Diaz however was quick to add that the investigation is not yet over, saying they still need the help of the Philippine National Police (PNP), which first looked into the death of Trinidad “Trina" Etong from a gunshot wound in her head. “Our investigation is leaning to suicide but our probe is not yet over so we cannot categorically say it is suicide," said Diaz. Failon – who had been embroiled in a case of obstruction of justice for his wife’s death – came to the NBI office about 10 a.m. Wednesday accompanied by three legal counsels. NBI director Nestor Mantaring said their investigation so far has not yet established that foul play was behind Etong’s death. “We have not established yet that there is a crime. If it is suicide, then there is no crime," he said. But while NBI officials stopped short of declaring the incident as a case of suicide, it said it could already clear the dust on at least two highly-debated aspects of the shooting. “Sa aspeto ng medico legal, una, gunshot wound talaga ang kinamatay ni Mrs. Etong [The examination of the police’s medico-legal team showed that Mrs. Etong indeed died due to the gun shot]," Diaz said in a radio interview. “Pangalawa, ang entrance po noon ay galing sa kanan papuntang kaliwa so it will erase kung sino ang nagsasabi otherwise. Iyon po ang findings [Secondly, the bullet’s direction was from right to left]," he added. Much debate had been created by the real trajectory and direction of the bullet that hit Etong’s head. Doctors at the New Era General Hospital earlier said that the bullet entered through Etong’s left temple and exited through her right temple. The basis of the doctors was Etong’s relatives’ claim that she was left-handed. However, Dr. Erwin Erfe and Dr. Racquel Fortun, private forensic experts commissioned by the Failon family, said based on the characteristics of the two gunshot wounds on Etong’s head, the direction of the bullet was from right to left. The shooting incident occurred last April 15 inside the couple's home in Tierra Pura Subdivision in Quezon City. Etong was brought to the New Era General Hospital where she later died. Initial findings of the NBI showed that about 90 percent of Etong’s blood was spilled inside the bathroom, believed to be the scene of the incident. Police probers arrived at the residence on the day of the shooting with the bathroom already cleaned up. They were only later able to detect the traces off blood by casting ultraviolet light all over the bathroom floors and walls. - with Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV