THE FINDINGS of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on the death of Trina Etong, wife of famous broadcaster Ted Failon: It?s suicide.

Etong had suicidal tendencies, according to Dr. Rommel Papa, NBI psychiatrist.

Papa based his findings on interviews with Etong?s close friends and relatives to whom she confided her thoughts days and weeks before she died, NBI insiders told this columnist.

Trina Etong was despondent over financial problems, her close friends and relatives told the NBI.

NBI handwriting experts also found that the controversial note that purportedly asked for her husband?s forgiveness was in Trina?s own handwriting.

There were speculations the note was written by one of the maids to cover up a parricide allegedly committed by Ted Failon.

Failon should now stop worrying that the government was getting back at him for his adverse commentaries against the Arroyo administration.

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But why is the NBI taking long to come out with its official report on Trina?s death?

The blame should be placed on the lap of NBI Director Nestor Mantaring, who is probably the most inefficient and do-nothing chief of the NBI.

A career NBI agent, Mantaring was appointed to the NBI?s top post because he was the deputy director of Reynaldo Wycoco who died in office of natural causes.

?Since he was the bureau?s No. 2 man, he assumed the top post as OIC [officer in charge]. He was eventually appointed director after he kowtowed to the First Gentleman [Mike Arroyo],? said an NBI agent.

Mantaring is the kind of chief who wants to please everybody; thus, he doesn?t make a stand on controversial issues such as the death of Trina Etong.

Mantaring leaves his subordinates to do their thing. This attitude has been construed by some underlings as a license to extort.

One of his favorite subordinates was exposed by some senators for shaking down a massage parlor.