‘IT’S A MATCH’

Crime Lab in Camp Crame shows blood samples from boat match DNA of Gisela Boniel’s mother Defense lawyer says Bohol PB Member Niño Rey Boniel’s camp will ask for a ‘more independent’ test

The body of Bien Unido, Bohol Mayor Gisela Bendong-Boniel remains missing, but the bloodstains taken from a motorboat reportedly proved she was killed in that vessel, police said.

The Crime Laboratory in Camp Crame, in its report, concluded that the “source of the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) profile obtained from the cotton swabs with alleged bloodstains taken from the motorboat cover is consistent with having come from an offspring of the mother” of Gisela.

The Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 made the result public yesterday through Senior Insp. Reslyn Abella.

Gisela was allegedly shot dead by her husband Bohol Provincial Board Niño Rey Boniel while aboard the boat and she was lat- er thrown into the seawaters off Caubian Island, Lapu-Lapu City last June 7. Niño Rey is facing a parricide charge before a LapuLapu City court. His cousin Reolito “Etad” Boniel tagged him as the gunman.

Regional Intelligence Division 7 Chief Jonathan Cabal said the DNA result “establishes the link” that Gisela was killed. “We are of the firm belief that he will be convicted,” he said.

Atty. Inocencio de la Cerna Jr., one of Niño Rey’s lawyers, urged the police to release the official result. He said they will resort to a “more independent, unbiased and qualified re-testing” of bloodstain samples. “It is the constitutional right of the accused to question the circumstances under which this evidence was obtained,” he said.

PHOTO BY ALLAN CUIZON CARE PACKAGES: More goods for evacuees of Marawi City are on their way to Iligan City, thanks to the Duterte Cabinet Spouses Association, which turned over the items to the Armed Forces.