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Failon falls
Trinidad Etong – Ted Failon’s wife – is dead. Despite passing the paraffin test, Ted Failon is under arrest, charged with obstruction of justice. And still, no one has constructed a timeline of known events.
Near as I can figure it, Failon left his show before it ended, and arrived home around 10:20 am; Trinidad Etong was brought to New Era Hospital several minutes later, and another few minutes later was left there by her husband.
At that point, Ted Failon disappeared from the map. It was only towards the middle of the afternoon that Failon finally re-surfaced; and it was only around 4 pm that the cops finally got into the picture.
My timeline is crap, I know. So here’s hoping someone comes up with a better one, eh? In the meantime, there is – as has been pointed out by many – a substantial period during which Ted Failon’s whereabouts remains unaccounted for. Where was he? What was he doing?
Paraffin test - much is being made of the fact that Failon passed the paraffin test for gunpowder residue. Despite pop-culture, however, the paraffin test isn’t really that definitive. A 2004 TOWNS Awardee for Medicine even goes so far as to call it junk science. Read that BULLETIN, it’s pretty enlightening, and she points to the work of experts who, in 1967, said that “The paraffin test is in fact nonspecific and is of no use scientifically.”
So, despite all attempts to portray the negative paraffin results as a kind of shortcut route to innocence, it is important to remember that it is not.
Public Opinion – As a kind of sideshow to this affair, there are many bloggers who seem to have taken up the cudgels for Failon, asking, begging, and warning others from speculating and whatnot.
Unfortunately, all these things are like toothpaste. They can’t be squeezed back into the tube. Once the media gets a hold of the story, snippets of information will come out and get imaginations to working. It is the exact same pattern that politicians use with great effect against their opponents. Let a few bits of information trickle out and fan the flames of speculation. While I detest idle speculation, it is surpassingly amusing that those who have been willing participants – even promoters – of that kind of intellectual dishonesty are now up in arms over it.
ABS-CBN – It is also amusing how a news agency like ABS-CBN that practically lives off of the misery of others should be so protective of its own … or wait. Is it being protective of Failon? Or is it being protective of its own competitive edge?Remember how, during key moments in the early unfolding of this drama, ABS-CBN had near-exclusive coverage? I don’t know what their ethical rules are, but if they are such vanguards of truth and fairness in journalism, shouldn’t they leave the coverage to others?
But they don’t trust others not to sensationalize? Apart from the fact that ABS-CBN is, in fact, sensationalizing the news anyway, this attitude betrays a disdain for competitors and reveals an amazing depth of cynicism. Reminds me of this old adage: what you do is what you suspect others of doing too.
Failon falls – Although he seems to have fallen so far so fast, I suspect Failon will do a Martha Stewart and emerge from this a little battered, a little tarnished, but still as popular and as trusted as ever. With the in-your-face damage control being done by ABS-CBN, aided by the political squawkings of Persida Acosta, and the fact that Failon has built up a formidable reputation over the years, it is hard to imagine him disappearing from the limelight in disgrace.
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Written by rom
Rom is a twenty-one year old experiment. She began life with the notion that she was a Filipino-Chinese Ilongga. Now, she just thinks of herself as Ilongga, having realized that she has failed at being Chinese. At least that's what her aku told her upon learning that she had fallen in love with a Filipino.
Filed under: News · Tags: Persida Acosta, shooting, Ted Failon, Trinidad Etong
8 Responses to "Failon falls"
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They’re all unethical. PAO’s lawyers are supposed to be up in ears in law cases for poor people, but what does she do? So Failon has lost vast sums and must be indigent now? Maybe not indigent but still lacking in cash to hire a private lawyer at short notice, so this favor from a PAO lawyer. Gonzalez is right, it looks maddeningly odd.
Failon should definitely be charged with all the incongruous timeline and narrative, and all the inconsistencies with evidence, including the tampering of the crime scene. Even barbarians know that. And he’s anti-gloria so I’m so sure he’ll come back. Right now, I believe a lot of people thinks he’s guilty. He’s not the charismatic type you know. Ordinary people identify them as one of their own but they don’t think he’s the leader (chieftain) type and so no exception to the law.
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OK ang pagpa-Patrol mo Kapusong Roma.
Some Schadenfreude will be at work as Failon’s co-media workers cover one of their own. Wouldn’t you say it’s the ultimate XXX (pronounced as ex-ex-ex) investigative work, no?
So, who’s gonna read the script pointing a guilty finger to Failon? Mr. Arnold Claview.
i would like to join you in your quest for a good timeline. this is the police’s job. baka bukas meron na.
You hit the high spots re: ABS-CBN. I should put you on my sidebar.
Hahaha! Thanks!
are you saying that minutes later trinidad etong was brought to the hospital “she left there by her husband”? or what you really meant she WAS left there by her husband.
if the latter, ted failon’s whereabouts after bringing his wife to the hospital is immaterial. his wife got shot while he was doing his radio program. ted failon’s “fault” is his failure to inform the police well probably there’s no reason for him to do so since his wife, according to ted’s knowledge, has committed suicide. no crime. besides, the hospital should have called the police. that is SOP for hospitals.
we don’t know whether he was busy trying to get in touch with his elder daughter who was in cebu.
Awesome edit. Thanks.
i truly am puzzled y a lawyer ( the guy with gray hair)of failon sed that there is no justice to obstruct if there is no established crime.fr my layman’s opinion, to even prevent a crime to be established justice can be considered as unbiased, fair and non premeditated state where a wrong or right can be truly derived from. hence crime for the wrong and off the hook for the right.failon on the other hand is not a newbee (at least not easily get suaded) on matters like this and to hold him off the hook right away because he lost a wife ( at least i believed he loved less than letting her cling to him in times of crises to even go to the extent of summoning her sister fr far province when the one u shared a lyf together is within the same city where she waz). trina (sln) waz left alone to handle her depressions, a frend even told(?) her days bak of her plan to kill herself but thot of staying for the daughter’s graduation, is a proof that it was not a spur of a moment twist of fate. the lady (trina) deserves desrves affection fr the ppol close to her (at least that is wat they r professing now) and justice provided for by our prevailing laws for the eyes of the public where she is a part in equality of protection and rights… the police guys shud also understand that implementing a law doesn’t always by a sword but by the pen that scribbled it (law). to mr failon, i believe that wat u will say is coming fr ur love for trina, kaye and karishma- don’t be afraid the truth will set u freer than any freedom uv tasted…