■ AUTHORITIES LAUD DIVERS, VOLUNTEERS IN THE SEARCH FOR BIEN UNIDO MAYOR GISELA BONIEL'S BODY

Lapu-Lapu City Police Office to commend the technical divers who volunteered in the month-long search for Bien Unido, Bohol Mayor Gisela Boniel.

Police Regional Office 7 Director Noli Taliño said the divers and the governments of Lapu-Lapu City and Bohol spent at least P1 million for the past month in the search for the body of Bien Unido Mayor Gisela Boniel who was allegedly killed and thrown into the sea by her husband Provincial Board Member Niño Rey. Five divers yesterday again looked for the mayor’s body in the waters of Caubian. Despite the threats and challenges, the divers were all safe, said diving instructor Reiniro Tatoy.

The divers and local government units (LGU) of Lapu-Lapu City and the Province of Bohol spent P1 million during their monthlong search for the body of Bien Unido, Bohol Mayor Gisela Bendong- Boniel.

This was revealed by Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Noli Taliño who commended the LGUs for their continued support for the search and retrieval operation.

Taliño said that there was also a private company who provided logistical support to the technical divers.

Yesterday, five divers again searched for Gisela’s body between the islands of Caubian and Olango in Lapu-Lapu City.

The divers led by Reiniro Tatoy, a diving instructor, had to bring knives after poisonous snakes were seen during their dive last Thursday.

“The divers will not surrender. If the police will instruct us to continue searching, we are willing to extend our assistance,” he said.

The divers encountered another problem yesterday after the motorized banca owned by the Lapu-Lapu City Government malfunctioned. The boat captain was able to fix it a few minutes later.

Despite the challenges and threats to the life of the divers, they were all safe.

Chief Insp. Junnel Caadlawon, chief for operations of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO), thanked all the divers for their support.

He said that the divers who volunteered in the search and retrieval operation will be commended.

“Lapu-Lapu is so proud of you. The operation is not a failure because the retrieval team has contributed a lot,” he said.

Even if the divers still did find the mayor’s body, Taliño said it would not be a setback to the case they filed against Bohol Provincial Board Member Niño Rey Boniel, prime suspect in the mayor’s death. /

SUNSTAR FOTO / ALLAN CUIZON MEMORIAL SERVICE. Family and friends of Bien Unido, Bohol Mayor Gisela Boniel offer flowers for her soul at sea off Caubian Island where her body was reportedly thrown after she was allegedly killed by her husband.