On the afternoon of Sunday, February 11, Inmaculada Casal was experiencing one of the hardest moments since she began presenting Andalusia in the Afternoon. The journalist took charge of the current affairs program and opened with the news of the arrest of Antonio Tejado, nephew of his wife, María del Monte.
In the last few hours, news emerged of Tejado’s arrest for his alleged involvement in a gang of Portuguese origin that robbed houses in the Aljarafe region (Seville). Thus, Casal could not help but show in his face how they are living through this very difficult moment, while he tried to do his work live.
“Good afternoon, it is 5:20 p.m. Today is a difficult day due to the news that has emerged in the last few hours, but we are going to try to make sure it is not impossible; so here Andalusia begins in the afternoon,” the journalist began, trying to carry out their task as normally as possible.
However, in his face you can see the pain due to the situation that the couple is experiencing, who on August 25 suffered a robbery at their home in the Sevillian town of Ginés, while they were sleeping. A robbery from which, almost six months later, they have not recovered and live “with fear in their bodies”, as Casal stated.
“We have gone through a horrible experience that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. I would say it was one of the worst of my life. Everyone’s life was in danger. How am I going to be? Put yourself in my place,” he asked. At the moment, there is no evidence that the arrest of Tejado and seven other men in the framework of the anti-robbery operation is related to the event experienced by the couple.
Casal assures that he trusts in the judicial process. “Now I am expectant. I trust in the justice of this country. We have a country with justice with many guarantees. Also in the presumption of innocence, of course,” she added, cautiously.
The journalist did not give any further explanations “until more is known” so as not to hinder the investigation with possible speculation, but she saw that it was her “duty” to comment on the topic. “It is my duty, I am a journalist and I put myself in everyone’s shoes. I have a program, I like my profession and I owe respect to you, and also to the audience,” she continued.
When asked by Irma Soriano whether she would have liked the arrest and the name of Antonio Tejado to have been made public later, Casal decided not to continue talking about the matter. “I cannot speak out any further, it is in the hands of justice,” he declared, insisting that he believed in the truth “above all” and that the sooner he knows it, the better.
For the moment, he tries to focus on the proven facts: “We know that there are eight detainees, eleven searches. They are in jail and waiting to testify before the judge.”
The journalist even tried to end her intervention in the best possible way. “You have to take the good out of the bad. Something good will have to come,” she concluded.
