SHE’S STILL MISSING
Kidnapping and physical injuries cases filed in Bohol vs. PB Member Niño Boniel. Divers keep searching for his wife, the pilot and Bien Unido Mayor Gisela Boniel. Couple had been estranged since February, after an alleged mauling incident.
Bohol Provincial Board (PB) Member Niño Rey Boniel was charged with kidnapping and serious physical injuries for allegedly grabbing Angela Leyson and her 17-year-old son last June 7.
He may later be charged with parricide for allegedly killing his wife, Bien Unido, Bohol Mayor Gisela Bendong-Boniel, that same day.
Senior Supt. Jonathan Cabal, Regional Intelligence Division (RID) chief, said that they are still hunting down three or four persons in connection with the incident.
Niño, his driver Randel Lupas, his first cousin Riolito Boniel, Wilfredo Juliar and Restituto Maguncia are already under police custody.
"They are co-conspirators. We will file two counts of serious illegal detention and kidnapping and serious physical injuries for what they did to Angela Gamalinda-Leyson and her son and parricide for Mayor Gisela," Cabal said.
The board member's camp immediately filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus that questioned his arrest.
Marivic Trabajo Daray, acting presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 52, Talibon, Bohol, said that “there is no justification for the respondent and the PNP personnel under his command and authority to hold and detain the petitioners without warrant."
Cabal questioned why Daray approved the order right away when police have 36 hours to investigate.
"We will bring this matter to the Supreme Court and the Department of Justice. Atty. Salvador Pañelo, President Rodrigo Duterte's chief legal staff, is also monitoring this," he said.
"The judge is reportedly the relative of Niño," Cabal said.
The intelligence official also reprimanded two police officers of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office where Leyson first reported the matter for failing to accommodate her and for not telling her that the case was not under their jurisdiction.
Niño, Etad and Lupas were escorted to the Hall of Justice in Tagbilaran City, Bohol for the inquest yesterday afternoon.
Evidence
Niño's camp signed a waiver to detain him for 10 days to let them prepare the documents for the hearing, which is set on June 23.
Juliar, Lupas and Maguncia executed affidavits in favor of Leyson's statements.
Members of Bien Unido's Municipal Council and the PB showed up to support Niño.
The RID brought Niño back to Cebu for the filing of the parricide case in Lapu-Lapu City.
Meanwhile, Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Noli Taliño said that they are doing their best to find Gisela's body.
"We need her body as evidence against the board member, that's why the search continues,” Taliño said in Tagalog.
"We will make sure that the suspects will be convicted for their crimes," he added.
The search for Gisela's body continued off Caubian Island, Lapu-Lapu City yesterday, with 19 divers scouring the waters for her remains.
The search began at 7 a.m., and was halted around 1 p.m. because of the strong current.
The search will resume today at the same time.