I pray that nobody, especially lesser mortals like me, will go through the multiple tragedy that happened to Ted Failon, one of the country’s top broadcasters.
It was tragic enough that a suicide has happened to the Failon family. It was double tragedy that a number of them became suspects and worse, they became victims of police arrogance and cruelty.
Many who witnessed the policemen’s rough treatment of Max Arteche and Pamela Arteche-Trincheta, siblings of Trina, Ted’s wife, who passed away Thursday, as well as that of their driver and household help lament that if that can happen in a case involving a broadcast celebrity under the glaring lights of live TV, how much more to ordinary citizens.
On the other hand, maybe it happened because Ted is a famous journalist. Through his popular radio program, in tandem with another hard-hitting broadcaster Korina Sanchez, he hit hard on those who violated the law and demanded accountability from government officials fort heir transgressions.
That’s probably the reason why the policemen gloated when Ted was being subjected to the humiliating process that suspects in a crime go through. When they could not get enough of Ted, they took it out on Ted’s in-laws and household help.
It’s difficult to accept the denial of PNP Metro Manila Chief Roberto Rosales that the “lapse in procedure” was not a way of the police getting back at Ted and ABS-CBN; that the the Failon case is “being treated like any other case” and that they are “giving those involved fair treatment.”
I know that Rosales has to do damage control on horrendous damage that Senior Supt. Franklin Mabanag to the image of the police that PNP Chief Jesus Verzosa (as well as his predecessor, Gen. Avelino Razon) has been trying to correct and improve.
Mabanag showed insensitivity as well as ignorance, not only of the law, but of human nature. We still have to know the result of the police investigations but with the many interviews that we have seen and heard, we know that Trina was still alive when Ted found Trina bathroom of their house. If you were in his place, what would you do? Bring her to the hospital, of course.
If they forgot to report it the police in that stressful situation, is that a crime? In the first place, suicide is not a crime.
A lawyer friend said until such time that a shooting is determined to be suicide or self-inflicted ,the police has the mandate to investigate. I understand that. But it doesn’t mean forcefully extracting relatives from the deathbed of the victim.
Mabanag justified their use of force on Max and Pam saying that “All tactics are being deployed by them from hysterics to dramatics.”
What kind of a human being is this Mabanag not to understand the sensitivity of being on hand, praying and giving support to a dying relative? He calls Pam’s refusal to leave her sister’s deathbed “hysterics and dramatics?”
If you were Max and you see your sister being dragged by burly policemen out of the hospital, what would you do, just look? Of course you will intervene. Max was then bundled up also for obstruction of justice.
All these arrests were done without warrants of arrest. We heard the police announce “warrantless arrest” when they were manhandling Max. Don’t these policemen know they can only do warrantless arrest under three specific circumstances which are in flagrante delicto or in the act of committing a crime, hot pursuit, fugitive from justice. None of these three elements were present in the arrest of Max and Pam.
These things can only happen in an environment of lawlessness and impunity. The dreadful thing about this is that perpetrators are so called agents of the law. God save the Filipino people.
Every right thinking Filipino should condemn such heartless and insensitive acts committed by the PNP to the Failon/Etong family. The daughter who was interviewed on TV Patrol was clearly distraught and angry on how they were being treated by the police. According to her, they were held at the police station for three hours while her mother was dying in the hospital. I was also surprised to see on TV a police official telling Ted Failon that they received information that he has scratches on his back, insinuating that he and his wife had a fight which could have led to the shooting. However when Failon removed his shirt it was evident that there were no scratch marks. The question is, who was the informant of the police? Or was it part of the police trick, stupid and idiotic it may be?
Then we have sira-ulo coming to the picture, ordering the NBI to conduct an investigation and talking about having Failon on the BID watch list. This government is really moving heaven and earth to make life a hell for Ted Failon. Is it because he has been critical to the Arroyo regime?
Many of our police are ignorant of the law. The only law that they know is brute law, or savage law. I bet that if one would ask them (the police) point blank about a specific law with regards to law enforcement, they’d probably scratch their head if not their balls and answer: “sorry sir, absent ako nung tinuturo sa amin sa PNPA yung batas na tinutukoy niyo.”
I remembered a similar situation, not long ago in the USA where a popular football player was rushing to the hospital with his wife because his mother-in-law was dying. In his haste, he ran a stop light. A policeman tried to stop them, but they still proceeded with the cop following them until they reached the hospital. The man tried to explain to the cop what was happening and pleading to the cop that his mother-in-law was dying. The wife got out of the car anyway and went inside the hospital to be with her dying mother. The cop, pointing a gun at the man didn’t seem to care and arrogantly mishandled the situation. The officer was reprimanded by his superiors and the police chief made a public apology to the family.
Last I heard, the police officer involved in the incident took it upon himself to resign from the police force.
Here is a link to that story:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4017382
The word “lapse” has become the most abused word in this evil administration. Malacanang has the habit of using “lapse of judgment” while Law Enforcement Agencies use “lapse in procedure”.
By the way, the incident was caught on tape from a video cam installed on the dashboard of the mobile car.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez earlier commented that he believes the cleanup of the crime scene “was not a lapse but could be an intentional act of tampering evidence.”
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has summoned the house helpers of news anchor Ted Failon to appear today at the bureau for questioning regarding the fatal shooting of the broadcaster’s wife last Wednesday at their home in Quezon City.
….Since Sec. Raul Goonzalez who called PAO Chief Acosta “crazy” has prejudged the case, what’s there to investigate by the NBI? NBI is under DOJ and DOJ is under Malacanang and Malacanang is under the Evil Bitch.
Here is another link of the story of the football player that I posted above:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4033626
Furthermore, Raul Goonzalez ordered hold departure order for Ted Failon. Why? Is Ted a flight risk? How many of those accused of crimes were given hold departure order by DOJ/BID?
Why do they single out Ted? And Malacanang denies it has a hand on this case?
Borrowed lines from the famous senate jester,PAG-BAD KA SA KANILA LAGOT KA!that’s why the everything will throw at you even their last bad breath!!it is not only double standard,million times so far we notice,this impaired brain old man, has urine already on his brain.Put Ted FAILON on watch list and NBI assisting SHERLOCK HOLMES WORK,quite stressfull for the family.This action of a desperate man tried to makeover of the stupidities of those IDIOTS.
Mabanag should be re-educated in Psychology 101, Forensics 101 at Counseling 101.
Napaghahalataang ignorante ang ating kapulisan. Tsk.
Yung ABS e duda ako. Bakit parang ine-exclusive nila yung case ni Ted Failon? At bakit si Ted Failon e sa ABS lang nagsasalita halos? Ultimo yung ibang media people e hinaharang nila (recall the precint scene anyone? hinarang ang ibang media dun noong bumisita si Ted Failon sa mga kasambahay nya). Gusto monopolyahin ang issue para lang sa ratings. Tsk.
TF wife’s death may be ruled as a suicide, but by whom, and how much investigation will actually ensue? Let’s face it, in some respects our gov’t only differs from organized crime in terms of having legitimacy. “They” can make anybody disappear, dead, or suddenly be unable to remember what happened to them just as easily as the thugs they publically denounce, but in private emulate.
There are various types of mental illness.
One is being a paranoid conspiracy theorist.
Another is singing la la la and pouring yourself another cup of tea while your neighbor is being murdered in his front garden thirty feet away.
You could put it more simply:
Eyes open, or eyes shut.
or:
Believing everything your politicians tell you, or using the powers of discrimination which your life experience is supposed to teach you in order to sort out the truth from the bull. Any parent can do it with his child, and when your government appears to be run by children with guilt written all over their faces, with their hands still in the cookie jar, and using the pathetic excuses which all adults have heard a million times from school kids, you can tell the difference too.
Police brutality and abuse of authority is not a monopoly in the Philippines. This is true all over the world. It should be put under control actively, not reactively.
“It’s difficult to accept the denial of PNP Metro Manila Chief Roberto Rosales that the “lapse in procedure” was not a way of the police getting back at Ted and ABS-CBN; that the the Failon case is “being treated like any other case” and that they are “giving those involved fair treatment.”
It is not only difficult to accept, but is simply NOT acceptable. Lapse in procedure is the norm for policemen who are of the thinking that police power is the power of the policeman. They are ignorant of the fact that it is the power to police.
Ted Failon, being a popular broadcaster should have alerted the police to take extra care because he is a public figure and therefore very visible. He should have not been treated like a regular hoodlum. Senior Supt.Franklin Mabanag needs a refresher course in Police Procedures 101 and a lot of training is public relations.
That is the main problem of several people in the position of the Philippine government, not only the policemen. They don’t know exactly what kind of job they have, the limitations of their authority, and the accountability in the performance of their responsibilities. To them, to lead is to be serve, but it should be the other way around. These people thought just because they are in position that they have all the power to do what they want and can. These people are forgetting that they are paid by the Filipino taxpayers to serve the best of the Filipinos. My condolence and sympathy to the family of Mr. Ted failon. These policemen violated the rights and liberties of Mr. Ted failon and his constituents. They were grabbed without informing them of their rights, nor a warrant of arrest. These policemen, including their involved leaders should and must be FIRED and get them out of their job for abusing their authorities and failure to protect the rights of the suspects. Remember, a suspect has all the rights for an attorney or counsellor to protect himself from incrimination, and must be protected and subjected to the court of law until found guilty.
The Police claimed they read the “Miranda Right Doctrine” to those arrested but from all the video footage we saw, there was none. I don’t believe the cops do this to all those being arrested. I’m sure many of them don’t even know what to say.
PNP = Pulis Ni Pidal
Mga hudas kayo sa taumbayan!
Here’s the latest news…call it very disgusting report: PNP NCR Chief Rosales is FG Mike Pidal’s man and he (Rosales) communicates directly with Malacanang. Those ranking police cops who manhandled the Failon household are all Rosales’ boys. Rosales desires to replace PNP Chief Verzosa and continues to keep a very good relationship with Malacanang. It’s Malacanang that wants Rosales to pin down Ted Failon. Of course Rosales denies this…
Here’s one simple question: When Sen. Miriam Santiago’s son committed suicide, why didn’t the police investigators manhandled her, her husband and other members of household? There was no investigation. The case was declared closed immediately. Both Miriam and Ted Failon are prominent personalities. Why different procedure was being applied to each one? Miriam was and still is an administration ally. Ted is a true opposition critical of Malacanang.
Every death in Family, the Cops will always not Rule Out Foul PLAY..I remember one day when a co-worker 5 year old daughter suddenly got sick and DOA and the Cops immediately picked him up and drove him to the Hospital, yet we knew that they didn’t ruled out foul play, until the autopsy results told them otherwise and then we could felt their true sympathy as they were both present during the visiting hours and even escorted the Funeral procession…but never during the incident they let it known that the parents have been suspected of child abuse.
I wonder if Trina’s body was even autopsied. In the absence of evidences in the crime or death scene (it was cleaned, remember?).
Napakawalang puso ng mga pulis na ito lalo na si Mabanag ginagawa pang pamaypay yung “suicide letter” ni Mrs. Etong na sinasabi nya na “sorry letter” lang daw. Ano ba yan?
It is so obvious to see QC Police Chief San Diego is taking this issue with grudge and revenge. Ang sabi niya sa kanyang speech kaharap kung ilang daan na QC pulis, humanda sila sa isasagot nila sa ating mga tanong pagkatapos ng libing ni Trina. Ginawa raw silang mukhang masama. Patutunayan daw niya na sila ang masama at hindi ang kapulisan ng QC.
Halatang halata yung mga sinabi niya ay pine-personal niya at may tinatagong galit.
“Because of all of the controversy that surrounded the manner of which this case has been handled from the beginning, it was discussed this [Monday] morning by the members of the Napolcom en banc… that effective today [Monday], the investigation of the death of the late Trinidad Etong will be turned over to the NBI,” Puno said in a news conference. – PDI
And, in that interview on ANC, Puno even had the arrogance to say that the PNP is already “sacrificing” by suspending the police operatives involved in the arrest of Ted’s household staff and in-laws.
Anak ng…. parang utang na loob pa ng sambayanan ‘yang ginagawa nila sa mga pulis na yan ah.
Those cops were not suspended…only relieved from investigating the case.
Dr. Erwin Erfe, forensic consultant, said that Trina’s death was possibly a suicide from the evidences he gathered. This Dr. Erfe was also the forensic expert who claimed it was indeed Galman who shot Ninoy Aquino. If Trina’s death is finally determined to be a suicide based on Dr. Erfe’s findings, then it would be very possible that Galman and not the soldiers shot Ninoy. If this is so, the entire case against those soldiers who were recently released was wrong from the very beginning.
From Cita Garcia:
Ted Failon and his househelp could not have reported to the police about the suicide because when found in the bathroom they already knew that she shot herself, and their first concern was to bring her to the hospital, not the police and that is very justifiable.
Their belief was subjective— meaning they knew at that time that there was not crime. Ted knew it because he knew he did not shoot his wife. so also the others.
Masyado ;lang na emotionally affected sila kaya riot ang nangyari, and the policemen was not only terrorizing Ted they were already punishing him!.They were framing him.
I’ve never heard nor know Mr Failon so don’t have an idea of who or what the person is like.
But from what I’ve been reading, my sympathy goes to him and his family and stems from my belief that our police force is thoroughly unprofessional hence to me, whatever they do is suspect, if not out of corruption, it’s out incompetence.
MABANAG, ET AL… KENKOY!!!! MAHIYA NAMAN KAYO! PINAPAHIYA NIYO LANG ANG INSTITUTION NIYO!
Ellen,
I like your pic there! Are you going to post the same one in the masthead?
By the way, no matter what I do, I can’t seem to post mine — HELP COCOY! Will be so much nicer if all the commenters have a pic…
Finally, I got it.
I’m trying to make a mosaic for the whole masthead. It will take a little time.
Anna, you have to get an account with WordPress.(www.wordpress.com) It takes a few seconds. From there, follow Cocoy’s instructions.
Anna,
Ellen is right get a wordpress.
Here’s again how to to it.
Click—-My Account
Click—-Edit Profile–on the upper right corner–My Gravatar
Click—-Change Your Gravatar
Click—-Browse—select your picture on your computer file,type it on the blank long square on–Open-
Click—-Open
Click—-Upload, your picture will appear.
Click—-Crop picture–It’s done and you’re ready to go.
You look blooming and gorgeous Ellen! Angel Locsin will be out of place, if you’re both deserted in an Island,the rescue Helicopter will leave her in the Island with a dozen of young coconut.
Bilib ako kay ted! imagine ganyan na ang nangyari sa family nya at mahinahon pa sya.
Bilib din ako sa kanya at sa prinsipyo nya sa buhay! Imagine 4yrs syang nasa congress. Tapos ang problema nila financial pa. Ibig sabihin ay hindi sya nag payaman at nag nakaw noong nasa pwesto pa sya. Si gloria ilang taon lang naka upo billion na ang pera! and take not! $ pa yon!
Dapat ang iboto nyo yung mga Col. marcelino, ted , father ed at kung pwede nyo clone ang mga yon gawin na natin. Magging maayos ang pinas pag 200 plus na congress , 24 senador, lahat ng mayor, bise presidente at ang presidente ay mga mag anak nila marcelino, ted at father ed. At pati ang kabiyak ng pangulo ay dapat tulad nila:)
Di kaya matatapang ang mga “fool–ish” ng Quezon city dahil may mga “Hangal” silang sinasandalan? Critical sa opposition si Ted Failon kaya …opportunity na nilang rumesbak sa kanya! Sad lang..kasi, Ted was caught off-handed!
Naku, Wish kong MULTUHIN sana si Mabanag…! Sana! Sana! (Ginawang pamaypay ang sulat ng patay!
To Mabanag:
“Psssst…ayan na!”
Hoy Mabanag masyado kang OA, maski Bgy.tanod di ka puede.
Hope Ted Failon get’s back at this guys, tignan ko lang kung ano katwiran ng mga Bobong pulis na ito.
Isa pa yang si gunggonzales…naniniwala sa text messages.. Ang panghi na niyang matandang yan!
When I was young my SLN LOLA, told me that I had to respect ALAGAD ng BATAS,coz those people are to protect me, if Ive been voilated or crimme been commited against to anybody.my admiration was high due one my uncle was member of QCPD,w/c those times criminalities in the city quite low.I never heard my uncle abuses his authorities nor saw him asking/ getting favor because he is wearing uniformed.More 30 yrs. ago I got ill feeling towards these hoodlooms in Uniformed,instead of protecting they are the commiting corruptions,voilations and criminal actitivities in all angles.That’s why I called them ALAGAD NI SATANAS,instead respected name ALAGAD ng BATAS.
I think the requirement to become Pulis Patola,you must be a college graduate,it doesn’t matter if it takes them 10-15 years to get a bachelor’s degree,You must know somebody and willing to pay placement fee (kahit bawal ipadaan sa ibabaw ng mesa,kaya under the table pinapadaan).Kaya karamihang nagiging patola ay iyung favorite ng mga professor at ayaw silang paalisin sa pinapasukan nilang University o College.
That must be the main reason why most of these patolas are corrupted and slow learner.
Sa atin kasi nagkaroon lang ng tsapa ay akala nila sa sarili ay si Herodes na sila,Kahit na nga mga traffic enforcer at MMDA akala mo sila ang may ari ng kalsada at kapag nauhaw na sila at kailang nilang uminom ng Pepsi o Coke ay para na sila referee ng basketball na malakas pumito.
Kahit na nga mga CAFGU sa barrio na nakahawak ng lang ng mahaba akala nila ay heneral na sila.Minsan may sinapak akong Cafgu sa amin dahil ubod ng yabang,Tutukan ba naman ako ng baril,naagaw ko ang baril niya at iyun ang ipinanghabos ko ng balikat niya.
Cocoy,
I am still wondering, bakit ganito ang pinag-aasal ng police force natin? I mean, given na ang mga higher ranking officials nila e from PNPA and PMA pero bakit ganito pa rin?
Parang mga patola pa rin.
Ganito ba ang tinuturo nila sa mga learning institutions nila?? Brutality, not humanity? Kung umasta kasi ang mga QCPD police that time, parang di sila officers and law enforcers but mere squealing barbarians willing to frame Ted Failon.
Silver,
Some of these Mr.Cop The lack of economic resources and jobs and their unwillingness to become criminals, leads them to join what sometimes seems like the only lawful profession, deathdealer. Unfortunately, many fit this group, they make perfect followers and are easily trained in any way desired. Totally malleable, they will follow any order without rethinking it as they were taught in reprogramming. These are the guys who will risk their career and their freedom by carrying out orders that they must have known were unlawful, yet succumbed to the programming that tells them to follow orders or face treason charges, extreme duress when you consider the punishment could mean death.
Then there are those who go in because they understand that it is the perfect place to commit crimes with impunity. The ability to murder others without remorse is rewarded, so they carry it out with gusto and no innate fear. Rape and pillage? Too bad for the fools who were too weak to protect themselves. These make the perfect ‘new warriors’… merely pirates in disguise, following any ridiculous order or following any flawed ideology merely because they are commanded and paid. These take to the training and evolve it into a whole new level of hatred and evil. To these, self discipline is seldom effective, merely a disguise for their disdain for all things of this world. In my experience, these were the gangbangers that wanted further training in their art and spent countless hours in simulated war and killing. Those referred to earlier as they that are merely ‘doing their duties’ Magpayaman.
It is such an awful act of the QC policemen…….It seems that they dont respect others grief…what if the tragedy that happened to ted will happened on them also?Would they know the feeling of bieng lapse by the law?Hope that the policeman would also experience worser than what ted failon experienced……
The horror here is that the police and even the DOJ sepecially Sec. Gonzales, without concrete evidence or batting an eyelash can instantly condemn as guilty Ted Failon and his household. In their minds you are guilty before proven otherwise. They do not subscribe to the dictum – innocent unless proven guilty. This kind of attribute belongs to those who run countries like North Korea, Myanmar, PRoChina and some African states. I say the whole PNP is guilty for they do keep silent and protect their own even when they themselves openly and proudly commit violations of rules and law. As I said in previous threads, these errant police even gets promoted or rewarded under this administration. And that’s horrific!
May I add, the penchant of police authorities to have their pictures taken while displaying their alleged catch for media and public display has tacit approval from GMA. Remember GMA displaying Acsa Ramirez as the suspect in a money laundering scam just to turnout to be innocent and the real whistle blower. GMA, the NBI and other authorities gloating over their catch. This is no different. Other than that the PNP has an “ax to grind” against Ted Failon.
Anong maasahan mo sa isang Bansa na ang Pangulo ay isang magnanakaw, mandaraya at mamamatay tao. Noong si Gng. Marcos pa ang Pangulo bilang mo kung sino talaga ang mga masasamang opisyal dito sa pesteng Glorya ay halos lahat na yata ng kanyang mga opisyales. Saan ba naman magmamana ang mga inutil na yan. Tell me who your Boss are and I will tell you who you are. Please lang mga Kabayan ko pakiusap lang … lahat na nakakabit ngayon kay pesteng Glorya ay huwag na natin pang pag-aksayahang iboto sa 2010. Tumanggap lang tayo ng lagay pero pagdating sa botohan … gamitin ang ating utak. Bigyan natin ang ating magiging anak at mga apo ng isang maunlad at maipagmamalaki nating Pilipinas. Huwag sayangin ang iyong boto.
Maiba lang po “EU to RP: Donorland is NOT Disneyland” front page ng Inquirer kahapon. Totoo yan. Pero pag sinabing “EU to Arroyo: Donorland is NOT Disneyland” hindi papayag yan at ang kanyang mga Opisyales. Hindi lang Disneyland … HEAVEN sa kanila yan. At sisigaw pa sila ng “Wow Mare bigaaaat”.
Had it not for the media outburst, those bad cops would not have been suspended (only 30 days). Just imagine the many victims who are helpless in the hands of these goons. Yes, they behave like goons more than cops.
Now that the case has been turned over to NBI, don’t expect much from it. NBI is under DOJ whose Chief has already prejudged the case by issuing statements against Ted and his group.
Trina is to be cremated. Pardon me but I’m still at a lost as to whether or not cremation is against God’s command. Fundamental Christians believe it is wrong because our body is the temple of God. Hence, it should be preserved to be presented to God without blemish.
Ipinasa na sa NBI ang kaso nila Failon dahil bistado na yong Sr. Supt. ng QCPD na may koneksiyon siya sa Malakanyang. Pero hindi pa din lusot si Ted dito …. mas lalong pahihirapan siya. Kita niyo na nga lang wala pang kaso e nasa watchlist na siya sa Airport …. compliments of Gunggungzales. Hindi pa kasi kunin ng demonyo ng matandang gunggung na yan. Wala naman na siyang silbi sa mga tao. Ang pinagsisilbihan lang ay yong mag-asawang mandarambong.
Tungkol naman sa Cha-cha … ang dami ng lumalabas na paraan meron pa yong 4th mode daw. Eto pa ang isa ring Gunggungzalez .. yong gaya daw ginawa nila Cory at yong kay Villafuerte pa. Sa lahat ng ito .. di ba sa extension ng terms ang pinupuntirya nila lalo na doon sa unanong demonyo. Sa dami ng problema ng Bansa ngayon na dapat asikasuhin nila pero iba ang kanilang mga pinaggagawa. Dapat talaga i-firing squad ang mga taong ito sa Libingan ng mga Demonyo.
Kung matapat lang sanang naglingkod etong si Pesteng Glorya mula noong inagaw niya at kahit na nandaya pa noong 2004, hindi sana nagkandaloko-loko ang buhay ng mga tao at buhay din nilang Macapagal-Arroyo. Pero ano ang ginawa nangolekta ng nangolekta ng tong-pats pati mga Opisyales niya nag si-gayahan na. Imbes na ligawan ang mga NPA o sino mang kalaban ng Gobyerno ano ang ginawa … pinagpapapatay. At yon namang kumokontra o tumutuligsa sa kanila .. pinapahirapan. Kaya eto ina-ayos nila ang buhay ni Ted. At hindi lang yan balita ko huhulihin na nila si Lozada. Bayan ko gumising ka!!!!!!!!
Mga kababayan ko huwag tayong magtulog-tulugan may masamang binabalak yang si Glorya. Kumakahol na lahat ang mga Tuta niya.
Yong mga asong ulol na alaga niya pala.
Bakit ang pulis sa atin karamihan ay malaking tiyan? They don’t look fit to do anything. That must be the reason why they resort to “lagay under the table”. Just what they say “follow the leader”.
When Ping Lacson was the PNP Chief, he required all cops to lose weight and trim their waists. Today, the PNP hierarchy on order of Malacanang requires all cops to put more weight.
This author is the Dean of San Beda College Graduate School of Law:
We have seen so many tragedies the past few days. Let me enumerate:
1. The arrest of Ted Failon’s relatives at the New Era Hospital . It was admittedly an overkill. But let it not be automatically concluded that the police did what they did because Ted Failon is one of their staunchest critics. In fact, in Metro Manila, many of our police are harsh in their t rea tment on civilians. Many were abusive and cruel. Unfortunately, those who are rather kind, just turned a blind eye on the abuses of their colleagues. I have visited many police precincts in Metro Manila and very few are accomodating and friendly to people. Very few are courteous except if they know you personally. To be fair, this situation is quite different in the provinces where many policemen are still looked upon with high steem..
2. The kind of reporting by media. I am not an expert in analysing media reports but even my tambay friends tell me that the media, particularly ABS-CBN is biased in favor of Ted Failon. The slant of the news is clear. Even GMA coverage and that of TV 5 were obviously sympathetic to Ted Failon to the point of making conclusions. Worse, they muddle the issue by highlighting police brutality. ABS-CBN seems to be the leader in this. They protect their own I suppose. To some extent, Philippine Media has lost some moral ascendancy on this aspect. And they complain a lot when Congressmen protect their own, the Church protects their own, etc, etc. The difference in coverage when a non-media person faces controversy and that of a media person is glaring and tragic.
Mr. Ted Failon is a celebrity and a public figure. In a sense, the public owns him and the public has the right to know what happened. Yet, ABS-CBN appealed for the right to privacy of Ted. Had the case been that of an ordinary person, ABS-CBN will invade that privacy in the name of press freedom.
To some extent, it is the new media culture that is to blame. Media networks made their reporters and broadcasters celebrities instead of professional journalists. They report the private lives of their own reporters and newscasters. They proclaim their good deeds as opposed to the Christian teaching not to allow the left hand know the good deed of the right hand. They report weddings, baptisms, social events of their own people. This was not so 15 years ago or so. This is now the price of being a celebrity.
3. The death of Trina. Very tragic indeed, specially because the truth may be hidden forever. Because suicide as the cause of death is not clear, the people cannot be blamed if they make speculations. Ted Failon, being a former Congressman, a broadcaster of long time experience should know better that people will continue to speculate. My tambay friends can’t believe that the househelp did the cleaning of the “scene of the crime” and the vehicle on their own. As critical a case like that would require them to ask their boss what to do. And, is it true that the dress Trina wore at the time of her death could not be found? That Ted Failon ordered his people not to talk to media is truly interesting and curious.
4. Ted Failon’s actions. Whether it is suicide or not, Ted Failon owe it to the public to allow an unhampered investigation. Of course, there is grief. He must be grieving. But he must allow unhampered investigation the soonest possible time. He should also talk to other media networks and not merely with ABS CBN. He should make himself available to other networks. The death of his wife is not a teleserye and therefore Ted Failon should rise above the network war. I will vote for him as Senator if he is more open and transparent.
God bless us all.
They’ve assigned the probe of Ted Failon’s wife’s suicide to NBI special agent Arnel Dalumpines. That means they’re up to no good, and don’t mean what they say. Interior Sec. Ronaldo Puno tried to assure the public that they’d undo the bumbling of Quezon City cops. That’s why, he said, they moved the case to “an agency that has never been involved in similar controversy.” Yet they gave it to a sub who specializes in manipulating big cases. Ted must be warned: Dalumpines is a gofer of Justice Sec. Raul Gonzalez, who has prejudged that Trina’s death was no suicide. They’re out to harass Ted for being so critical of admin graft and bungling. Gonzalez already did so twice last week; he will do worse now that the case is in a minion’s hands. They have many ways to make life hard for Ted, perhaps as a lesson to all critics. At the very least they can protract the probe while leaking nasty tidbits to the press, thru Gonzalez’s PR man whom ABS-CBN had fired for abuses.
Dalumpines was the same agent who “investigated” the concocted theft of the ZTE contract. They had contrived the “theft” two months after the April 2007 signing to evade disclosing the shady contents. Dalumpines went through the motions of flying to China and grilling a Filipino attaché who had handled the papers. For good measure, he announced that “that columnist” must have been in on the supposed theft “because he knows too much” about the deal. That was during an interview on my radio show, in which he kept stumbling on such basic questions as how many copies were there and if the four other contracts signed simultaneously in Hainan were also stolen. In the end he closed the case with no clear conclusions.
Dalumpines was also assigned recently to “probe” the bribery to weaken the Alabang Boys drug case. By then, however, Gonzalez already had cleared the five implicated prosecutors and one undersecretary. Dalumpines couldn’t contradict the prejudgment. More so, Gonzalez’s denial of two case fixers in his office named in congressional hearings. So Dalumpines expectedly saw, heard, spoke no evil. But true to form, he threatened with charges of obstructing justice the very narc major who had blown the whistle on the bribery but who doubted his probity. It had to take an independent three-man commission to undo Dalumpines’s lies. The six officials were suspended; one’s bank deposits were frozen for money laundering.
Does Ted Failon say good things about Pandak? There is your answer.
Do Americans say good things about Bush? Do Europeans and other countries say good things about Bush? There is the answer.
Evil,
Iyong Igot mo wala man lang nadala galing sa Europe at South America. Fidel Castro reprimanded his brother for cozying up to Igot. Pababa ng pababa ata ang rating ni Igot mo. Ang ginagawa ni Igot ay ipahiya ang USA at purihin cia. Parang bata ang isip. Everything is done to inflate his ego. Pang Hiligaynon ka lang Evil or Putos ng guinamos.
Makinig ka cay Cocoy para maeducar ka nang kaunti at malaman mo ang katutuhanan. Bush is past why do you have to dwell on the past.
You and Cocoy are pro-Republicans; so why tell me to discuss with him about Obama? Whether you like it or not, in just 100 days Obama has proven to be a lot more likable and better leader than Bush who messed up America for eight years not including his father’s administration. That’s a fact. Now, Washington is studying the possibility of charging Bush for his torture memos and other irregularities by his men.
As I mentioned earlier, the Failon and Miriam Santiago’s cases were similar; but differ in investigation. Failon’s wife Trina and the other households were given paraffin tests while Miriam’s son and her household did not. Physical autopsy was conducted on Trina but Miriam’s son did not. NBI wants to have psychological autopsy to determine the motive of Trina’s suicide if indeed it was a suicide. Part of the investigation is to find out what circumstances prior to the suicide. If Miriam’s son also committed suicide, why was there no psychological autopsy on him? What’s the difference between the two cases?
You are right about Dalumpines, BE. He cleared Resado in the alleged payoff case which was contradicted later on by the Griñ0-Aquino committee.
Whether or not guilty si Ted, tapos na ang career niya. Wala na siya crdibilida. Magsulat na lang siya ng libro at magpayaman na lang siya, makulong man siya o hindi. Dahil talaga curios ang maraming tao ano ba talaga ang nagyari. Di kasi nakakapaniwala na innocent siya, ang daming inconsistencies. Sana matapos na itong kaso, dahil parati kong naiisip yung mga butas sa istorya ni Ted, dapat ideretso na para malinawan ang lahat.
lullaby,
Wala nang interes ang tao sa kaso ni Ted Failon. Kumbinsido ang nakararami na suicide nga. Kaya lang mainit pa rin ang balita ay dahil doon sa mga kagaguhang ginawa ng mga pulis. Kung hindi ka marunong bumasa sa aksyon ng isang tao para malaman kung guilty siya o hindi, malaki ang problema mo.
Guilty pa rin sa akin si Ted, tingnan mo lang ang reenactment ng sucide picture. Di ako CSI pero yung ulo at mga kamay, binti di lang man gumalaw. Putukan ba ng baril yung ulo deretcho pa rin, hoy gising scripted lang ng maid at ni Ted –Guilty pero di guilty beyond reasonable doubt dahil binura ang ebidnesya–for that alone kulungin na siya. Pag ikaw nasa position ni Ted–kulong ang abot mo bosing, dahil wala kang kapit kay VP Noli and the rest of the powers that be. O ano sabi mo bosing? Wala akong problema si Ted ang may malaking problema dahil sa katangahan niya — wala sa ayos talaga. Pag ikaw kasing tanga niya — kulong ang abot mo bosing—so huwag kang tatanga tanga!
di pa rin ako makapaniwala sa mapait na trahedya na nangyayari sa kapulisan(hopeless lot!) at mas lalong na windang ako na ang totoong pangalan ni Ted Failon ay Teodoro Etong.
hay.. late reaction! pero di ko lang mapigilan di magcomment nung nabasa ko ang backfire mo para kay tonguetwisted lullaby…
like, haller!!! sa suicide picture ka pa nagbase! anong kabobohan naman yan!!!
sino ngayon ang tanga?
Yung tanga ang maid – hindi realistic ang death reenactment position. Tanga rin ang mga naniniwala na si Ted ay innosente -kitang kita nga binobola lang ang death position. Hindi ako gumawa ng death postion reenactment – yan ang testimonya ng maid ni Ted. Si Ted naman iba rin ang sinasabi – medyo pahiga raw -common give a break – both are lying their way out. At wala ring nakarinig sa putok ng baril – ano ba ang mga tao roon sa bahay – mga bingi. Ewan ko ha, nagbibigay lang ako ng comments at analysis ko.
Baka wala nakarinig ng putok, dahil silencer ang ginamit. Huwag naman magalit ang fans ni Ted, baka lang di ko naman sinasabi na yan ang nangyari. Peace mga brod, huwag tayong magaway baka may magbaril diyan sa inis at galit. Keep cool na lang tayo.
lullaby, u were born as “tanga”, until now “tanga ka pa rin”. so sad dawgie…