THE National Police has formed a special task group to look into the disappearance of Josie Tallado, the wife of Camarines Norte Gov. Edgardo Tallado, who, authorities and members of his family said, had been missing since Friday.
Special Investigation Task Group Tallado was formed by the Camarines Sur Provincial Police Office, with members, including the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, to thoroughly investigate the disappearance of the governor’s wife and her personal assistant.
Other than finding the missing persons, the task group was ordered to look into all other angles surrounding the case, including determining whether the two are still alive.
The governor held a news conference in his office at the Provincial Capitol in the town of Daet on Monday, wherein he appealed to people who may have grudge on him to spare his wife and his family.
The governor, who was very emotional during the news conference, also expressed hope that authorities could still find his wife, and even her aide, alive.
Josie and her aide, identified as Darlene Francisco, went missing since Friday afternoon and their case had been confirmed by the governor, saying the two have not been seen nor returned to their families.
The governor’s wife and Francisco left at around 2 p.m. for Barangay San Roque in the town of Vinzons to eat. They were riding a black Toyota Fortuner that Josie was driving.
A security escort, Police Officer 1 Michael Lubiano, was supposed to accompany the two, but the
governor’s wife reportedly told the policeman to just stay behind and wait for them.
The two did not return and were not seen since then.
At around 7:30 p.m. on the same day, the Fortuner that they used was found abandoned on the Maharlika Highway at Barangay Napolidan, Lupi town, which is more than 60 kilometers from Vinzons.
The vehicle was found by a bystander who reported it to the authorities.
Policemen found inside the vehicle three matchsticks, a pillow soaked in diesel and a partly burned umbrella.
Authorities initially believed that the persons behind the disappearance of Tallado and her companion tried to burn the Fortuner.
The governor’s wife, current head of the Philippine Red Cross in Camarines Norte, was reported to be eyeing the post of representative for the Third District of Camarines Norte in the next elections.