Camarines Norte gov’s wife: I fear for my life

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Josefina “Josie” Tallado, the wife of Camarines Norte Governor Edgardo “Egay” Tallado, reappeared Wednesday, October 22, saying she left because of threats to her life by her own husband.

Accompanied by lawyer Lorna Kapunan, Tallado told ANC’s Headstart program she felt she was not safe at their home anymore.

“Umalis ako ng bahay namin dahil alam kong hindi na ako safe sa aming tahanan,” she said. (I left our home because I don’t feel safe there anymore.)

The threats, Mrs Tallado said, was because the governor had accused her of uploading a photo of his alleged mistress on Facebook.

She claimed the governor had verbally threatened her because of the photo upload, and that she felt there have been unknown people trying to enter their home in the past week.

She denied uploading the photo. However, she admitted knowing that her husband has a mistress. She also claimed to have seen a sex video of the governor and his mistress last month, stored in the governor’s cellphone.

Tallado said she has been verbally abused by her husband.

She also said their 27-year-old son knows about their marital problem.

Escape

The turning point came, Mrs Tallado said, when she saw the governor carrying a gun upon his return from a trip to Manila. She also claimed he cut all their Internet connections at their home.

On Friday, October 17, Tallado, aided by her friend Darlene Francisco, finally left.

She left their home at around 2 pm on the same day, saying she would accompany Francisco back to her home. They then left her old cellphones at Francisco’s home, and told her security detail to stay there.

The two women then fled: Tallado on her Toyota Fortuner, Francisco using a motorcycle. They abandoned the Fortuner in Lupi, Camarines Sur, and rode the motorcycle all the way to Naga City, where they stayed overnight.

On Saturday, October 18, they bought a cellphone and a second-hand car, which they then used to go to Manila. They were able to reach Manila on Sunday, October 19.

Upon reaching Manila, she reached out to a former professor, who then helped her contact Kapunan.

‘Hacked’

Kapunan said they will file a case against the governor for violation of Republic Act 9262, or the Domestic Violence Law.

The lawyer said Tallado now needs protection round-the-clock, given the threat to her life.

The lawyer also said that everything Mrs Tallado saved on her phones and laptop were lost because of a mysterious hack. She also got threatening messages on a newly-bought phone.

The phone numbers, Kapunan said, were traced to a number in Camarines Norte.

Tallado also denied she is involved in drugs. Kapunan said these are simply ploys to deflect the blame from the governor, in case anything untoward happened to her.

Tallado also categorically denied that the incident is a ploy to help her political ambitions. “I am not running for any office in 2016,” she said.

“Tama na. Ayoko na… Mas masayang mamuhay ng mag-isa, kaysa hindi ka kampante sa kasama mo,” the governor’s wife added. (Enough. I don’t want this anymore. I’m happier living alone than living with someone I’m not comfortable with.)

Mrs Tallado and Francisco were first reported missing in the afternoon of October 17. They were last seen leaving Barangay 3 in Vinzons town, on board a Toyota Fortuner.

Police on October 18 found the vehicle abandoned in Barangay Napolidan, Lupi, Camarines Sur. – Rappler.com