The Shooting of Ted Failon’s Wife (Update: Trinidad Arteche Etong Is Now Dead)

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Ted Failon’s Wife is Now Dead

as of 8:50 PM, April 16

My deepest condolences to Ted Failon’s family.

Trinidad Arteche-Etong, the wife of veteran ABS-CBN newscaster Ted Failon, has been declared dead at 8:50 PM by doctors at the New Era General Hospital Thursday evening. She passed away about 20 minutes after doctors tried to revive her, Peter Musngi reported Thursday night over radio dzMM.

Source: Ted Failon’s Wife Dies from ABS CBN


For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

My husband and I watched the video above and hubby immediately noticed that one piece of evidence, the “Suicide or apology note” is being handled by reporters. Shouldn’t the evidence be secured and tucked in a safe place? Talk about being responsible. Anyway, the note says this:

“”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 mapawad 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]…

Okay, I find it strange that the wife addresses Ted Failon as “po” so many times. Being Visayan, I might have made the wrong assumption on the usage of “po” since the “po” word is not part of my Cebuano dialect. Or she is just very respectful when she speaks in tagalog. I don’t know. There are just so many inconsistencies from the news reports. (see update below)

Update April 16 11:00 AM

“It was a self-inflicted incident. My mother tried to commit suicide by shooting herself in the head,” said Kaye Etong in an interview over dzMM.

She added that the supposed letter from her mother bore her true handwriting.

“I know my mother’s handwriting. Nung nakita ko ‘yung kopya ng sulat, alam kong sulat po ‘yun ni Mama (When I saw a copy of the letter, I know Mama’s handwriting),” said the daughter, adding that the use of the words “po” and “opo” was normal for her mother.

(Source: ‘My mom tried to commit suicide’ )

As of this writing (10:00 PM, April 15), there is no official report from the SOCO [Scene of Crime Operatives]. News Report cite that as of posting time, Trinidad Arteche Etong, 44, was brain dead.

Brain Dead.

I’ve heard those words blaring in my ears at the emergency room as my son lay dying on the hospital bed. It is a shock to hear words like “clinically dead” or “brain dead”. It’s like giving hope that a miracle may happen but the truth is , it simply means dead. No life. The heart beats but it is artificially stimulated by a drug. You know the brain has no more activity but one wants to hold on to any small fringes of hope.

I don’t know the circumstances behind the shooting of Ted Failon’s wife. I can only speculate as either suicide attempt or domestic violence.

The family must be feeling shaken, unsure and vulnerable.

It is a matter of time. And all I can offer are my prayers.

Updates (Most Recent)

Ted Failon’s wife passes away

Kaye Failon, daughter of Ted Failon says ‘My mom tried to commit suicide’

The Failon Shooting Incident from Bandila


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  • elsa

    NASAAN ANG MGA CELLPHONES NI TRINA AT LARRY ETONG?

    These phones will be very crucial in the investigation.

    But . . . .. siguradong useless na if surrendered by Larry Etong.

    Bakit . . .. . . He will erase all things that are will bring shame to himself and her wife.

    He did not necessarily or directly killed her wife . . . .

    VERBAL ABUSE did it . . . Trina was pushed to the limit to kill herself.

    I experienced this 5 years ago, my husband has verbally abused me non stop for about a month. I was on the verge of killing myself with poison.

    Okey na kami ngayon simula ng maging born again ang husband ko.

  • http://aboutmyrecovery.com Noemi

    I think suspicions are raised against Ted because of the “sorry note”. Trina seemed so scared of Ted. I felt so sad reading her note. People can’t help speculating on Ted’s direct or indirect participation.

  • smile

    one thing that disgusted me so much was when that mabanag guy who is supposedly a police officer, gave some detailed information to the media. worse was when mabanag showed the “suicide note”, and worst of the worst was when he handed the note to a reporter to be read. that’s when my jaw just dropped. this case is being handled very poorly just by seeing that mabanag video alone.
    however, if mabanag’s objective was to cover up a crime and resorted to a “suicide case”, well, then, by showing a “suicide note” to the public, he’s doing a great job!

  • smile

    another thing, the reenactment of the scene by the maid is not convincing. would a person who is unconscious be sitting up against a wall like that? wouldn’t he be slumped on the floor? did the police interview the people inside the house separately and see if their account of the incident consistent? (just want to know)

    i read a comment here castigating ted of leaving the hospital to take care of his child…in fairness to ted, a person who is in shock can not think logically. i don’t even know what is more logical in that situation anymore – stay with the wife in the hospital and hope that the child is being protected (most especially emotionally) by the maids, or go home and protect his kid while his wife is being taken care of by professionals. personally, i would choose to go home and make sure my child is okay, since i can’t do anything to help the doctors anyway.

  • jon

    … if your love one was shot and fighting for his/her life, you wont leave his/her side. ted couldve just called some relatives to take care of his youngest daughter.
    … if you dont want your daughter to see the blood, lock the doors. and dont let her use the pajero. simple math.
    … women dont use gun to commit suicide. men use guns, women use pills or something less messy and brutal.
    … trina is left handed, bullet entry is right temple
    … why would trina blast her brains out in her daughter’s room? why not were he found the gun, their room?
    … why ted ask the katulong “halika, samahan mo ako” pagpunta sa kwarto?
    … you dont clean up crime scene specially if its suicide, Ted knows that. unless they are covering up something.
    … a maid wont even dare touch blood and the gun if not instructed.

    … JUST THINKING OUT LOUD…
    remember, everybody lies. evidence dont lie, cant be bribed and not bias.

    reading that sorry letter, sounds more like a daughter asking sorry to papa. *winks*

  • elsa

    Very true!

    50-50 na ang wife sa ospital . . . uuwi ka pa?

    Not unless Mr. Etong has no sound mind.

  • elsa

    The pals or friends of Trina Etong are mostly casino gamblers.

    Kagaya ni Nadia Montenegro.

  • romeo

    ted failon is guilty all the way for me, you know common he planned it this, first his a former congressman and a news anchor he’s a educated man and know’s a way to get away with anything even murder you know what im saying. all im saying that i hope forensic experts can figure it out what really happend there’s gonna be a clue somewhere. i don’t like people getting away with murder especially the people that can twist around everything so they can cover up whatever they did, people that have power to people like ted, a congressman and a news anchor. i dont think the crime scene happend in the bathroom or maybe it did but its already had clened up all evidence. if the forensic expert look closely and study what happend they would find a clue or evidence that can put ted failon to the court. i hope they don’t stop searching for clue and evidence. it so sad what happend to her the note said she was scared of something maybe to her husband that might kill her but she did not mention it to a letter. i think if they fight and argue it was so fast things get out of control ted shoot his wife he panic and left her body in the bathroom and he goes to work for alibi. he’s a smart guy but i hope the forensic expert are smarter than him.

  • poirot

    More questions:

    How many guns does Ted Failon own?

    Does he carry this gun always?

    Did he bring this particular gun when he reported for work on the morning of the shooting incident?

    Why did the wife have to write a note when she can text her husband?

    Does Ted Failon normally wear a hat?

    If he did this only after the shooting of his wife, it indicates he is trying to shield himself from being totally exposed, a contradiction to his being used to the limelight as a TV news anchor and program host.

    Poirot is not getting any conclusive evidence so far.

    Calling Miss Jane Marple!

  • Kate

    To answer poirot’s question, yes, ted usually wears a baseball cap when he’s doing his radio show. I’ve seen it a couple of times on teleradyo,

  • dino

    News story: “Failon will kill himself because of you people.”

    :) :) :) :) :0

    Go ahead Ted Etong kill youself! I could see you getting married within a
    year.

  • etong comment ko

    sana naman ND NABABAYARAN ANG HUSTISYA SA PINAS …sana LUMABAS na ano ang TUNAY na nangyari that FAITHFUL DAY OF APRIL 15..ang kawawa d2 ay ang mga anak ..

  • dino

    Media critics score ABS-CBN coverage

    By Alcuin Papa
    Philippine Daily Inquirer
    First Posted 03:43:00 04/24/2009

    Filed Under: Ted Failon, Media, Police, Suicide, Crime

    MANILA, Philippines—When reporting about a “Kapamilya” caught in a personal tragedy and a legal fix, how did ABS-CBN fare in the eyes of media industry critics?

    For Vergel Santos, veteran journalist and chair of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), the broadcast giant showed “a fraternal bias” for its top news anchor Ted Failon in its coverage of his wife’s violent death and the ensuing police investigation.

    ABS-CBN seemed to have adopted a policy of questioning everything that the police said, according to CMFR Executive Director Melinda Quintos de Jesus.

    This led to a “polarization” between Failon’s family and the authorities. “So the viewer could not decide what made sense in the incident.”

    Luis Teodoro, former dean of the University of the Philippines’ College of Mass Communication, shared the view: “It was a bit overdone especially on the part of ABS-CBN. There were stories that were repeated.”

    Failon (born Mario Teodoro Failon Etong) was tagged as one of the suspects by the Quezon City police early in its investigation into the death of his wife Trinidad Etong.

    Trinidad was found shot in the head inside the Etongs’ Quezon City home on April 15. She died in the hospital a day later.

    This is very true, pati ang mga blood relatives ni Trina hinarang ng ABS CBN sa lamay ng kadugo nila. This complaint comes from a direct blood relative . . . galit sila sa ABS CBN pati na kay Larry Etong.

  • Ravajj

    This case is fishy.
    They’ve clean it. Yeah they’ve reasons but its not enuf,they dont think of what may happen.
    T. Failon is holding the housekeepers from talkin`!
    Hello,ur too obvious.
    Even a half-minded bird-brain can sense that hes hiding something from everyone.

    Smooth work, but not so clean.
    It’s not SUICIDE.
    If it is, SHE IS GOIN TO H*LL…
    tsk,she should havent took her own life.

  • dragonlady

    Let me tell you about investigative reporters and commentators my friends.They are well opinionated people, they are very critical of many things. Ted Failon was ultra critical of Police Work and Scams. Their opinions are not only shared on TV, radio and print — They are also shared with their constant companions- their household which includes helpers and family members (wife is foremost). I remember one driver of a lawyer who in their impoverished neighborhood became the de-facto lawyer because he happens to ‘eavesdrop’ most of his boss’s affair and had the chance to chat with him on some occassions (mostly inside the car on the way to work).

    Now these househelpers may not be that ignorant about the law and its processes, don’t you think? Clean the crime scene and blame ignorance? Nevertheless, there is an old adage that goes “Ignorance is not an excuse”. How about that alleged financial scam, the wifey got involved into? Don’t you think the wife of an investigative reporter should know more than the average housewife. The scam (or gambling) is a very lame excuse IMO, Mr. Etong talks about it as if he doesn’t know a thing or two about his wife’s business dealings (or gambling habit). What I am saying is that- If it is suicide, it is not a simple case of suicide and If it is parricide, it is not also a simple case of parricide. The ‘suicide letter’ contents seem to defend the “lefty housewife” theory. People have reasons to doubt…

  • dragonlady

    [quote author=nogi link=topic=133961.msg1824180#msg1824180 date=1240527294]
    para sakin, binabalikan lang ng mga [avocado] police sina ted.. napakamali ng way nila na pagdakip sa mga kamaganak ni mrs. etong, kahit mismo mga head sa pnp sinabi na d dapat ganun ang gnwa ng mga police, malinaw na malinaw na suicide tlga un nangyare, mismo mga kpatid at anak na mismo ang nagsabi..saka un paglilinis nun scene ng crime, d naman inutus ni ted, kagad nilinis ng mga katulong kasi ayaw ipakita sa minor nilang anak.. saka me problema mabigat si mrs. ni ted kaya nagawa nya magsuicide, sobrang nadepress sya.. nagpapaimpress lang mga qc police.. kundi lang kilala un tao na kasangkot, d man sila magaganyan..heheheh
    [/quote]

    let me tell you about investigative reporters my friend (yes he is an investigative reporter). They are well opinionated people, they are very critical of many things. Ted Failon was ultra critical of Police Work and Scams. Their opinions are not only shared on TV, radio and print — They are also shared with their constant companions- their household which includes helpers and family members (wife is foremost). I remember one driver of a lawyer who in their impoverished neighborhood became the de-facto lawyer because he happens to ‘eavesdrop’ most of his boss’s affair and had the chance to chat with him on some occassions (mostly inside the car on the way to work).

    Now these househelpers may not be that ignorant about the law and its processes, don’t you think? Clean the crime scene and blame ignorance? Nevertheless, there is an old adage that goes “Ignorance is not an excuse”. How about that alleged financial scam, the wifey got involved into? Don’t you think the wife of an investigative reporter should know more than the average housewife. The scam is a very lame excuse IMO, Mr. Etong talks about it as if he doesn’t know a thing about his wife’s business dealings. What I am saying is that- If it is suicide, it is not a simple case of suicide and If it is parricide, it is not also a simple case of parricide. The ‘suicide letter’ contents seem to defend the “lefty housewife” (quote Matanglawin) theory. People have reasons to doubt…

  • failon

    Take a look at the reenactment picture. Di kapaniwala, deretcho ulo kamay at binnti ayos na ayos. Yung ulo di lang man gumalaw pag nagsuicide, daig pa ng natutulog. Yung kamay patas ang position — hindi ako CSI, pero doon palang huli na ang maid saka si Ted. Scripted lang and suicide.

  • kyle

    sa tingin ko pinatay sya dahil iba raw yung pinang sulat at pinang baril nya na kamay kaya yun.

    plssssss email me if something important happens

    franciskyle09@yahoo.com

  • http://realitiesandrealizations.blogspot.com/ Myraine

    Hello Ms. Noemi,

    I suddenly got hooked reading your blogs as they all tend to be both enlightening and entertaining.

    Thanks for continuously inspiring your readers and touching so many lives. Not all can possibly do that. Cheers!

    BTW, with regard to Failon’s saddening yet mind-boggling issue, I really do hope that the truth comes out soon. I can only offer my prayers to my former MENTOR as well as to his family. (Mr. Ted Failon was my former professor at PUP-Manila, Introduction to Mass Communication. He was a good mentor to me; he knew me by name. But, I really don’t know exactly who he is. LOLs.)

    Responsible Parenting, Life’s Stories and Family Blogs

    Myraines last blog post..Our Child is Indeed a Blessing

  • dino

    Latest . . .. may querida si Larry Etong.

    Source: very reliable.

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