Both parties in ‘Failon case’ show up for initial probe

MANILA, Philippines — Both the respondents and the complainants in the case stemming from the killing of Trinidad Etong, the wife of television anchorman Ted Failon (Teodoro Etong), arrived Tuesday at the Quezon City hall of justice for the preliminary investigation. Ted Failon, his sister-in-law and his household help have been charged by the complainants (suspended operatives of the Quezon City Police District) with obstruction of justice. Failon, Pamela Arteche (sister of Failon’s wife Trinidad), together with their counsels, arrived at about 2:35 p.m. The broadcaster declined to give comments, but said they would welcome questions after the hearing. “We will issue a statement later," Failon said as he proceeded to the office of prosecutor Mary Jean Pamittan. Meanwhile, two of the six suspended police officials Chief Superintendent Franklin Mabanag, head of the Criminal Investigation Detection Unit, and his deputy Superintendent Gerardo Ratuita arrived at about 2:15 p.m. Complainants Mabanag and Ratuita filed charges against the respondents after the household help cleaned the bathroom of Failon’s Quezon city residence, where Trinidad was found lying in a pool of blood last Wednesday. Suspend Senior Inspector Roberto Razon, who arrived shortly after Failon came, also declined to give comment. He said they would have to wait for the arguments that the respondents’ camp would present in the counter affidavit. As of this posting, the hearing on the case was going on amid power interruption at the hearing venue. - Mark Merueñas with Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV