Sex photo enraged governor, says ‘kidnapped’ wife

MANILA, Philippines - After she went missing for almost a week, the wife of Camarines Norte Gov. Edgardo Tallado surfaced yesterday, saying she had to hide out of fear for her life.

Josefina Tallado claimed she had to hide from her husband who had threatened her on suspicion that she leaked a photo that surfaced online showing the governor’s alleged mistress.

Tallado denied earlier reports that she was kidnapped in Lupi, Camarines Sur last Friday.

“I am hiding and I was not kidnapped. I voluntarily left my home because I feel I am not safe there anymore,” Tallado said in an interview on ABS-CBN.

She said her husband confronted her on suspicion that she posted the naked picture of the woman on Facebook.

“It happened last Wednesday when he confronted me and I saw a gun tucked behind his waist. It was the first time I saw him very angry. That was when I felt I had to leave,” Tallado said, adding she had known about her husband’s affair for years.

Tallado said her husband accused her and her friend, Darlene Francisco, of uploading the photo on Facebook.

She said she was accompanied by Francisco when she escaped in a black Toyota Fortuner, which they abandoned in Lupi town.

The two women hitched a ride on a motorcycle to Naga City. From there, Tallado bought a second-hand car and drove to Manila.

Governor Tallado earlier said his wife and Francisco left for the town of Vinzons on Friday but never came back.

The vehicle was found abandoned in Lupi, prompting authorities to suspect the governor’s wife and aide were kidnapped.

A police task force was formed to search for Mrs. Tallado and Francisco.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II said the police Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) had sighted Mrs. Tallado when she went missing.

“There were sightings. We have A-1 sources, in fact one of them involved the CIDG asking for a copy of CCTV, wherein she was seen in a place and to ascertain she was really the person,” Roxas said.

According to Roxas, he spoke with Gov. Tallado about his wife and he did not mention her disappearance.

“I asked him directly about the report of his missing wife and the recovered vehicle and he claimed the vehicle could have just developed engine trouble. He said they are not quarreling. He said his wife was only accompanying her friend home,” Roxas said.

‘Compromising’

Lawyer Lorna Kapunan accompanied Tallado and Francisco during the interview on ABS-CBN in Manila.

Kapunan said in the interview that the governor smashed his wife’s laptop with the gun.

“She’s never seen this in the husband. The picture is compromising. The supposed mistress was nude and masturbating. That was gross. The governor and the mistress felt so ashamed that they suspected Mrs. Tallado was behind the leak,” Kapunan said.

Francisco, for her part, said she saw the photo but denied uploading it. She said the photo could no longer be accessed.

Kapunan said a barangay protection order was issued Monday for Tallado. She did not reveal which barangay issued the order but she said it was in Quezon City.

“There is a threat against her. Her life is under threat,” Kapunan stressed.

Kapunan explained a barangay protection order could be immediately issued without the need for a hearing.

Kapunan said she sought the barangay protection order for her client to prevent the governor from getting near his wife.

Kapunan said the order also prevents the governor from stalking or even sending threatening messages to his wife. She said the governor could be jailed if he violated the order.

But even with the sanctions that the governor could face if he violated the order, for someone in power such protection is “just a piece of paper,” Kapunan admitted.

She said the barangay protection order is valid for 15 days. Before it lapses, Mrs. Tallado would have to file for a temporary protection order before the court, which will last for 30 days.

Following hearings, a court then decides whether a permanent protection order could be issued.

Roxas said he will meet the lawyers and Gov. Tallado to find out what really happened.

“This might be considered (a case of) women in crisis, we will leave it to the authorities,” he said.

Roxas said authorities are willing to provide security if Mrs. Tallado will request for assistance.

“But I don’t want to preempt her. The issues should be resolved between the spouses and their lawyers. It is always a very sad situation, domestic quarrels… if somebody could be involved, then we will file a case,” he said. – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Francis Elevado