‘Missing’ Camarines Norte governor’s wife surfaces

(Updated 11:33 a.m.) Almost a week after she was reported missing, the wife of Camarines Norte Governor Edgardo Tallado surfaced on Wednesday.

 

Josie Tallado said she left their home because she feared the wrath of her husband, according to GMA News TV's News TV Live.

"Umalis po ako ng aming bahay ... dahil nararamdaman ko hindi na ako safe sa bahay namin kaya napilitan akong umalis na," she said in an interview with GMA News' Arnold Clavio on Unang Balita on Wednesday.

 

Mrs. Tallado said the problem stemmed from an alleged affair her husband had been having.

 

The report quoted her as saying her husband accused her of posting an image of his supposed mistress on social media.

 

"(S)a tuwing nakikita ko si Gov. sa bahay namin, naroon ang galit sa mukha niya na anytime puputok... Dahil sa isang post na picture sa (social media) na isang babaeng nakahubad at ako pinagbibintangan ni Gov. na nag-post noon," she said.

Mrs. Tallado is now conferring with lawyer Lorna Kapunan on her next actions.

Following the development, the Philippine National Police said it now considers the incident a domestic case, radio dzBB's Rodil Vega reported.

 

GMA News is getting the governor's side on the matter.

 

Tallado's wife and a female companion were reported missing last Friday, though their vehicle was found in Camarines Sur last weekend.

 

An earlier report by GMA News stringer Peewee Bacunio said Mrs. Tallado was with one Darlene Francisco at the time. Their sport-utility vehicle (PRI-744) was abandoned along Maharlika Highway. 

 

Philippine Army troops had joined the search for Mrs. Tallado and Francisco on Tuesday, according to an Army official.

Police in Camarines Sur had  also formed a task force to locate the two. —Joel Locsin/KG/TJD, GMA News