Pinoy Daily Talk

THE wife of ABS-CBN news anchor Teodoro “Ted” Failon was rushed to New Era General Hospital last April 15 afternoon and was “fighting for her life,” due to a gunshot wound in the head, as reported by its network and GMA 7.

In a statement sent earlier by his home network ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., Failon did not complete his program over dzMM radio Wednesday morning after speaking with his wife on the phone.

According to Failon, “I immediately went home and saw that the bathroom door was locked. I had the door opened and I found my wife bloodied, so I rushed her to the hospital,” he said.

ABS-CBN reported that Trinidad left a note of apology in the master’s bedroom.

“Papa, Im so so sorry gustong gusto ko pong magsabi sa yo ng totoo, pero hindi ko po alam kung papaano ko uumpisahan.

Sobrang takot na takot po ako. Umalis po muna ako. Kasi hindi ko po kayang at nahihiya po ako sayo humarap.

Sana po mapatawad mo ako papa. Sorry, sorry Papa

Mama”

[I want to tell the truth but I don’t know how to start. I was afraid that is why I left]…

The Quezon City Police said they would not treat the victim’s alleged letter as a suicide note, noting inconsistencies in Failon’s statements.

The Witnesses

Based on Inquirer, initial investigation showed that Trinidad Etong was taken to the hospital by her sister Pamela, the family driver identified only as Glen, and another man believed to be Failon.

This was how a resident physician described the turn of events:

Upon arrival and after begging doctors and nurses to immediately attend to his wife, Failon asked everyone in the ER not to allow reporters or police personnel to enter the hospital premises: “No media, no police, please, nakikiusap ako.”

While attending to the patient, the ER staff asked what were considered standard questions, but Failon refused to answer even the most basic: What happened? How did the patient get the gunshot wound?

He remained silent, was in tears and visibly very worried. The only information he gave the hospital, verbally and in writing on the official hospital form for patients, was the patient’s name, Trinidad Etong, and her age, 45. He managed to tearfully tell the ER staff that the patient was his wife and a nurse: “Asawa daw niya, nurse daw, iyak nang iyak.”

A witness told the Inquirer that he saw Failon leaving the ER in a bloody polo shirt and wearing a surgical mask, apparently to avoid identification by policemen and reporters waiting outside, and boarding a blue Pajero at around 1 p.m.

Another witness, a gardener of Failon’s neighbor told the Inquirer that before noon, he saw the broadcaster in a bloody shirt about to board the Pajero in his garage with another woman who was weeping. But he did not see Failon’s wife. The gardener also said he did not hear gunshots coming from Failon’s house with glass windows.

Police investigators were only able to interview witnesses in the hospital and to get Failon’s address at around 4 p.m., or more than five hours later, because hospital personnel did not immediately allow interviews with the witnesses.

Hospital personnel also barred reporters from entering the premises and refused to issue a statement.

Sources said ABS-CBN had ordered a news blackout for several hours upon Failon’s request.

The Investigation

According to investigators, they were very dismayed when they found out the crime scene – the house and the car – were already cleaned.

This developed as the police contemplates to file charges of obstruction of justice against the driver of Failon and the three house help who cleaned the area where Trinidad was found.

Although Failon is tested negative for gunpowder burns, investigators said this does not mean he is already absolved from the case as they are not still considering the findings as conclusive.

“He is not off the hook. Paraffin test is not conclusive. We have to continue the investigation and would file charges against Failon if evidence warrants,” Chief Supt. Roberto Rosales said.

The Passing of the Victim

Trinidad Arteche Etong, the wife of news anchor Ted Failon, passed away, about 20 minutes after doctors tried to revive her, radio dzMM’s vice president for Manila division Peter Musngi reported Thursday night.

Etong was brought to the New Era General Hospital in Quezon City at about 11 a.m., Wednesday. She stayed at the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit and died there minutes before 9 p.m., Thursday.

Report said that the doctors and nurses were trying to revive Trinidad whose blood pressure had continued dropping minutes before she died. New Era’s Dr. Adonis Gascon, a neurosurgeon, said Etong was pronounced dead at 8:50 p.m.

“The immediate cause of death is penetrating cranial missile injury and then disseminated intravascular coagulation, and subsequent multi-organ failure,” Gascon told radio dzBB.

The Question

What do you think, is it a suicide or a homicide?

“A life lived with integrity – even if it lacks the trappings of fame and fortune is a shinning star in whose light others may follow in the years to come.“

A story is circulating around the internet lately about the “godly act” of Boyet Fajardo which happened at Duty Free Philippines on March 13, 2009. To give you some ideas, here’s the act…

The Case

On March 13, 2009, Boyet Fajardo went shoppping at the Duty Free Philippines Fiesta Mall located at Paranaque City. On paying his goods, the cashier ask for a valid ID because of his unsigned credit card and also an SOP for security purposes. At this point, Boyet Fajardo, got furious and created a scene. The store manager came to appease him and explained that the procedure was to protect the customers from possible con. Mr. Fajardo ignored the explanation. Based on eyewitness, he’s really fuming mad and looks like no one can stop him. He continued on shouting and uttering discriminating words like…

“Mga leche kayo! Hindi niyo ako kilala? Ako si Boyet Fajardo! At itong p…ina na babaeng ito (pointing to a lady officer) at ang baklang ito (pointing to the cashier) ay walang kwentang mga tao! I want them fired!!!”

The Act

Boyet Fajardo was really unstoppable. He just keeps on shouting and scolding on the two staff. Then, he said that only if the cashier kneel down before him and/or allow him to freely slap the persons face, may he get satisfied!!!

And the next thing that happened was that – the ill-fated cashier, with tears in his eyes, stand down and just simply gave in to probably he thought would end the matter, so crying in shame he slowly knelt down and apologize (for actually doing his job) before this self proclaimed GOD…

The Petition

Some concerned citizens asked the people to boycott Fajardo and his products. Here is the petition…
With such disrespect, discrimination and humiliation towards a good worker, a less fortunate person and a fellow Filipino…

1. We are calling all citizens to stop patronizing Boyet Fajardo’s RTW labels such as Substance in SM department stores, Boyet Fajardo and Initials in Landmark and Robinson’s department stores.
2. We are calling on all malls to pull out or stop distributing his products in your outlets.
4. We are calling on the Commission on Human Rights, Department of Labor and Employment and all human rights and labor activists to take appropriate legal actions on this matter.
5. We are calling all foreign embassies to deny him of entry to your respective countries.
6. We are calling on the Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines to dishonor him of his membership and profession.

…To give him a lesson and to help us stop him from victimizing the underprivileged over and over and over again.

Contact Information:
Boyet Fajardo
Tel: +632 6327120 / +632 6366871
Email: info@boyetfajardo.com
Website: www.boyetfajardo.com

The Complaint

In addition to the petition that called on the Commission on Human Rights, Department of Labor and Employment, and human rights and labor activists to take appropriate legal action, the Duty Free Philippines Employees Association, showed a copy of the video where Boyet Fajardo allegedly abused two of its members.

Susan Gonzales, one of the two employees who filed a complaint, said Fajardo threw his passport on the face of cashier Marvin Fernandez.

Being the store manager, Gonzales said she intervened to try to appease Fajardo, but he also allegedly vented  his ire on her calling her “fat woman”.

She said Fajardo allegedly threatened to get her fired since he reportedly knows a fashion designer who is in politics. She said the dispute lasted two hours.

As a result of the incident, Gonzales and other union officials went to the Commission on Human Rights to file a complaint against Fajardo.

Dennis Mallari, president of the Duty Free Employees’ Association, said Fajardo violated the dignity of their members.

The Apology

On Tuesday, March 24, his spokesman said that the incident was a result of a “creative outburst”.

“Figure of  speech ang kanyang ginawa eh. Bilang fashion designer, artist nga, ay minsan ay nagkakaroon ng mga creative outburst dahil na rin siguro sa pagod na nafi-feel niya ng mga panahon na iyon,” Ricky Rivera, the designer’s spokesman, told ABS-CBN’s morning show, “Umagang Kay Ganda.”

Rivera said Fajardo is willing to apologize for his “creative outburst.”

Of course, we have nothing against this man but his actuation is really degrading, taking away all your dignity as if you were not human.

Now, how do we assess his act?

Last December of 2008, a father and his daughter were among the victims of a shootout between the Philippine National Police and suspected robbers.

According to abs-cbnnews.com, Alfonso de Vera and daughter Lea Alyanna were on board their Isuzu Crosswind when they were intercepted by policemen along Sampaguita Street in the United Parañaque Subdivision IV in Sucat district.

A witness said Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) members trained their guns and opened fire on de Vera even after he alighted from the vehicle.

“Nakita ko, nakita ko niratrat nalang ‘yung sasakyan ng mga operatives ng SAF kahit lumabas na si Alfonso ng sasakyan, pinagbabaril pa rin.’ Di tinigilan hangang mamatay s’ya nang nakaluhod,” said the witness.

Lately,  an email was circulating  about the feelings and emotions of being the wife and  the mother of the victims. Lets try to determine and analyze her ordeals now that her loved ones has passed away. And to think that they were killed by those people who were suppose to protect them from bad elements…

Here is the email…

Two months ago I considered myself as one of those blessed and happiest people on earth. Why not? I married a guy who was an epitome of kindness. A guy who worshipped even the footsteps I made. More importantly, our union blessed us with a daughter who not only became the main source of our happiness….more so; she was the center of our lives.

We’re simple folks who led a simple life. We felt the happiest even about mundane things and inconsequential ones that most people would only take for granted. Our joy mostly revolved on simple pleasure like a sudden trip to Jollibee or a late night marauding of the fridge for any leftovers. A perfect family with simple delights, dreams and aspirations………until that fateful night on December 5, 2008 . The day my husband and daughter were taken away from me in a very violent way. That Friday night on December 5, 2008 marked the beginning of all the terror, anguish and misery in my life.

In keeping with my ritual or “panata” on every first Friday of every month, I went to Quiapo Church on the above mentioned date to pay homage and respect to the Almighty One. My husband and daughter were supposed to pick me up in Pasay City after which we planned on giving our daughter a treat to Jollibee. While riding the jeep, I tried to call my husband to tell him that I’m on my way to our meeting place. But despite all the calls I made, my husband remained silent. A very unusual occurrence inasmuch as he seldom missed my calls. Despite my trepidation and wonder, I took the next jeep going home and prayed that everything was alright. I even promised to myself that I will forgive my husband for not answering my calls and for forgetting to pick me up.

I felt relieved when near our place my phone rung. Such relief was somehow only momentary….in fact the phone call I got was the bearer of the worst news in my entire life. My helper called, only to tell me that my husband and daughter were shot to death by “men in uniform”. The same men who were sworned to protect innocent people from bad guys brutally slained the two most important persons in my life. They were the same men whose sacred duty was to preserve the lives of the public against all harm and danger. Yet…….they were the same men who murdered my love ones in the most cruel, savage and inhuman way.

My husband’s face was unrecognizable because he was shot in the head at close range while he was kneeling with his head bowed down. My daughter’s young body was riddled with bullets, one hit her head, blowing her brains out., all from too powerful guns and ammunitions fired by the “men in uniform” to two innocent and defenseless persons.

The “men in uniform” were allegedly on a mission to take some gang of robbers victimizing people at large. The police shot the crosswind van my husband and daughter were riding Based on some witnesses’ narration, the police sprayed bullets into the van despite the lack of provocation or shots coming from the crosswind van. In his last effort to save their lives, my husband grabbed my bloodied daughter and shielded her with his body while trying to run away from the police and tried to get cover from a parked jeepney My husband and daughter were so defenseless. How can you mistake a child for a robber? How can you shot at someone who was already kneeling with head bowed, an indication of helplessness.

My husband and daughter are gone…….forever. The pains I feel for their lost is too much too bear. And the only thing that motivates me to go on with life is the mission to seek justice for their senseless killing. If the people who were responsible for their death will be punished, if I could bring them the justice they so richly deserve, my pains would be alleviated. The misery I will live by will be lessened. My husband and daughter will be vindicated and I will learn to live the remaining years of my life in peace.

Thus: I’m asking and begging everyone who will come across this letter/e-mail to forward the same to all your relatives, friends, and acquaintances. Help me bring my cause to the eyes of the people capable of steering the wheel of justice to the right direction. Help me make the loudest cry worthy of attention by those people in-charge in rendering justice to those who deserve it.

Strength comes in numbers; it is where the impossible becomes possible. It is also where the unattainable becomes achievable.

My heartfelt gratitude for everyone who will take a moment in their too busy lives and forward this letter/e-mail to everyone they know. May God always protect you and your love ones from all harm.

~ Lilian de Vera

If it happens to you, what would you feel?