EDITORIAL - A form of revenge?

Everyone who follows the Ted Failon saga can only say one thing about the police handling of the case: that it was a blatant overkill aimed at creating a public impression that they are vigorously looking into all leads to solve the death of the popular broadcaster's wife.

While no one has been questioning the way the police acted swiftly in their investigation into the case, it is the manner with which some of Failon's household members were being arrested that prompted the public to cry foul.   

The police cannot blamed public speculations that the Failon incident has given them the opportunity to exact revenge on the ABS-CBN anchor for his being critical of their performances of late.

Those who were shocked by the way the Failon household was being treated by the police cannot help but think that the Quezon City Police Department really wanted to get back at the broadcaster.

Failon is a radio commentator and being a bonafide member of the Fourth State, he is free to criticize any deeds he deemed were committed beyond the normal course of the law. The Quezon City policemen did not escape his criticisms following the killing of three suspected carnappers along EDSA several months ago.

In that incident, which was caught on camera by ABS-CBN, operatives from Quezon City police repeatedly opened fire at those suspected carnappers who were already helplessly lying inside their bullet-ridden vehicle.

Viewing it as a plain summary executions, human rights advocates criticized the police for using too much force to neutralize the suspects. Although the police vehemently denied using extra force during the operation, the ABS-CBN video would tell otherwise, which made the basis of Failon's commentaries.

We do not want to conclude that the tragic incident happening inside the Failon residence has given the police the opportunity to get back at the mediaman. But based on their treatment of Mr. Failon and his household, we cannot help thinking their aggressiveness in dealing with the case was a form of revenge over his harsh criticisms.

Had the police acted with more restraint in bringing the Failon household to the station, it would have been a different story.