Carlson case not yet over — PNP

Case not yet closed.

All signs point to a suicide, but police are not ruling out foul play in the death Friday of former actress and beauty queen Ma. Teresa Carlson.

Carlson, estranged wife of former Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, apparently leapt to her death from the 23rd floor of the Platinum 2000 on Annapolis street in San Juan.

In Laoag City, Fariñas asked media outfits not to make sensationalist capital of his wife’s death. "Please do not feast on my wife," he said in Ilocano, reacting to reports that Carlson’s suicide was due to his mistreatment of her.

Fariñas has been described as a wife-beater, an accusation which he has denied.

The San Juan police are still gathering evidence and witnesses to determine whether Carlson was a victim of foul play.

"We are digging deeper into the case," said Superintendent Rodrigo de Gracia, San Juan police chief. "We will invite persons who could shed light on the case, especially those who met her days or hours before she died."

The local police recovered two hammers and a big pair of scissors, which Carlson had reportedly been lugging around to protect herself from her imagined "attackers."

Police claimed that the videotape showing her husband Fariñas beating up two of their six children cannot be found in the actress’ rented penthouse. It was the same tape which Carlson reportedly wanted to present to President Arroyo at Malacañang on the night before she died.

De Gracia secured the penthouse upon the request of Fariñas himself, who called him up yesterday morning.

"Mr. Fariñas asked me to secure their property so I’m dispatching my men to guard the place on a 24-hour basis," said De Gracia.

According to De Gracia, they received reports that Carlson had suffered from bouts of hallucination.

The San Juan police also requested the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) to gather evidence on reports that Carlson was into drugs.

"We are investigating all angles," said De Gracia. "Definitely, we are not ruling out foul play."

In a radio interview, Fariñas said his wife could have slipped from the building’s ledge. He did not believe that she committed suicide.

Fariñas said he himself was a witness to Carlson’s episodes of hallucination wherein she repeatedly expressed fears that someone was out to kill her and her family.

Carlson nailed shut all the penthouse doors and told her househelp Rochile Flores, 27, to run for her safety before she leapt to her death. She landed head first on the air vent of the third floor, police said.

When they first heard about what he still considers an "accident," he said he gathered his and Carlson’s six children and prayed the rosary, hoping against hope that it was all a ruse.

"I love my wife. She gave me six children," the former congressman said, his eyes puffy from weeping.

He confirmed that Carlson had lately become "paranoid," and that he was on the phone talking with her Thursday, hours before she reportedly leapt to her death.

"She imagined that some people are running after her and they were out to kill her," he told newsmen here. "I asked her to calm down and take a rest."

He said he assured that he would be by her side the next day, and would have taken a Philippine Airlines flight Friday morning but by then it was too late.

"It’s God’s will and I ask the media to cease ‘gossiping’ about my wife and our friends to pray for the eternal repose of her soul," he appealed.

He believed it was an accident, and that Carlson slipped from the air well near their condominium unit. They used to spend time together near that air well, he said.

Fariñas said his wife had feelings of insecurity for never having met her father. Carlson, born in Olongapo City, was reportedly a "GI baby." She has two sisters, both in the US with their mother.

It was the retired actress’ wish to be cremated, and her ashes scattered in Olongapo Bay.

But the former congressman said Carlson would instead be buried in the family mausoleum in Laoag City.