An investigation into the suspicious death of popular TV new anchor's wife triggered public outrage over the alleged harsh police action in arresting the family's household helpers accused of cleaning the crime scenes. Amid an extensive media coverage, the government of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appealed to the public Friday to give the family of ABS-CBN broadcaster Ted Failon time to grieve in private for the death of his wife Trinidad. The family of Failon, whose real name is Mario Teodoro Failon Etong, said Trinidad committed suicide in their family home in Quezon City over financial problems that has been kept in wrap. Press Secretary Cerge Remonde called on the public, including the media, politicians and law enforcers, to respect the right to privacy of Failon's family amid widespread speculations on how she died. On Wednesday, Failon said he and his driver rushed his wife to the New Era General Hospital in Quezon City after he found her soaked in her own blood in the bathroom of their house in Quezon City's Tandang Sora district. Police said they were charging Failon's maids and driver for cleaning the blooded bathroom and Pajero car used to take Trinidad to the hospital. The high-handed methods in arresting three house helpers, the driver and Trinidad's sister, Pamela Arteche - for not allowing the police to make a paraffin test on the victim's hands to find out if she had shot herself - was met with severe public criticism, particularly from human rights advocates. Police had said they considered everyone in the family's household, including Failon, as suspects in the shooting of Trinidad. Trinidad died from a gunshot wound in her head at the hospital Thursday night. Failon was also charged with obstruction of justice for failing to immediately report the shooting to the police and for “disturbing” the crime scene. Police said Failon also refused to surrender his mobile phone, which he used in calling his wife moments before she allegedly committed suicide. The Quezon City Prosecutor's Office on Friday issued a subpoena against Failon in connection with the obstruction of justice complaint filed by the Quezon City police. At the same time, the prosecutor also ordered the release of Failon's sister-in-law Pamela Arteche and helper Carlota Morbos, who were accused of the same crime along with three others, for insufficient evidence. Morbos was detained at the Criminal Investigation Unit at the police headquarters in Camp Karingal, along with fellow house helpers Pacifico Apacible, Wilfreda Bollester and driver Glen Polan. Her companions were still being held. Failon's camp said they were pleased with the prosecutor's decision to release Arteche and Morbos, and added that they will return to the prosecutor's office later in the day to post the P12,000 bail bond for the three. Paraffin tests conducted over the past two days found Failon, his driver, and three household helps, and even his late wife negative for gunfire residue. The police made a paraffin test on Trinidad's hands after she died. Authorities, however, clarified that paraffin test results were not conclusive. QCPD director Senior Superintendent Elmo San Diego said that even if Trinidad tested negative for gunpowder burns, the suicide angle is still not being ruled out. “There are instances when a person tests negative in a paraffin test even if he or she fired a gun,” San Diego added during a press conference at Camp Karingal Friday morning. Members of the QCPD-CIDU led by Superintendent Franklin Moises Mabanag who were involved in the investigation had been “relieved” from the special task force formed to investigate the incident. Metro Manila chief Director Roberto Rosales said he ordered Mabanag's relief. Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon called the police handling of the case “outrageous” saying police appeared to be “arrest-happy” because the people they held were at the hospital and would not have fled. He said police could have stayed in the hospital and guarded Pamela Trinchera “until such time they could bring her” to the station. The chief of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said Friday that he has ordered an investigation of his own men for possible use of excessive force and violation of police procedures in making the arrests.
