Akbayan party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros on Monday filed a resolution seeking to probe the alleged "police brutality" in the arrest of broadcaster Ted Failon's kin and household staff.

The police said they violated Presidential Decree 1829 on "obstruction of justice" because they allegedly prevented the police from investigating the death of Failon's wife, Trinidad Arteche Etong.

Etong died on Thurday due to a gunshot wound to the head. The family said she committed suicide, but the police have not discounted foul play.

"From the time Mr. Ted Failon brought his wife to the New Era Hospital on Wednesday, 15 April 2009 up to the present, Ted Failon, his family members and household staff have been subject of inhumane, inconsiderate, insensitive manhandling by the Quezon City Police Force, which caused irreversible mental, psychological and emotional pain and suffering to the family of the deceased," according to House Resolution 1096.

"The public witnessed how the QCPD [Quezon City Police District] hastily and brusquely arrested the family's two maids, their driver and utility man, without any arrest warrant and without any basis whatsoever for such warrantless arrest, without regard for their fundamental human rights," it added.

NBI takes over

On  Monday, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was asked to take over the investigation into the death of Etong amid a public outcry over alleged mishandling by the Quezon City Police District.

Secretary Ronaldo Puno of the Department of the Interior and Local Government said he has instructed the QCPD to turn over to the NBI all filings and evidence that have been secured in the case.

"The investigation of the death of the late Trinidad Etong will be turned over the NBI. It will be taken off the hands of the QCPD and transferred today to the NBI," Puno said at a press conference in Camp Crame.

He added that the QCPD will function as " a supportive group of the NBI."

Puno said the National Police Commission will also investigate possible administrative liabilities of QCPD officers over the arrest of Failon, his relatives and staff last week.

"It will be very important to determine if the actions taken by PNP officers were proper, in accordance with provisions under existing law," he said. Investigators will be given 30 days to finish its probe on the QCPD.

Several media outlets dubbed as an "overkill" the arrests of Failon's staff and relatives over the shooting of Failon's wife last Wednesday. Television footage earlier showed police dragging Failon's sister-in-law, Pamela, from Etong's deathbed at the New Era General Hospital in Quezon City last Thursday.

Police said they have not ruled the possibility of foul play in Etong's death despite interviews by Etong's friends and family that she had been contemplating suicide.