Boniel, 3 others to face trial in Cebu

Beleaguered Bohol Provincial Board Member Niño Rey Boniel and three other accused of kidnapping and serious illegal detention will face the charges in Cebu City after the Supreme Court granted the request to transfer the venue of the trial from Talibon in

The Supreme Court en banc also directed the Regional Trial Court Branch 52 in Talibon to transfer Boniel, Willy Hoylar, and Restituto Magoncia Jr. from Talibon District Jail to the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno granted the petition of the Department of Justice seeking to transfer the trial of the case from RTC Branch 52 in Talibon, Bohol to RTC Branch 57 in Cebu City because of alleged attempts to influence local authorities to give the accused special treatment.

“There are disturbing reports of continuing attempts to influence the local police and jail officials in order to give special treatment to Niño Rey Boniel and the other accused presently detained at the Talibon District Jail,” DOJ Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre told the high court in his petition.

The complainant, Angela Leyson, was happy about the decision of the court.

“It’s a sigh of relief from my end kasi mahirap ipagpatuloy when your life is at risk,” she said.

“I’m looking forward na sana justice will be served not just for Gisele (Gisela) but for me and my family, as well,” she added.

Leyson was the best friend of Mayor Gisela Boniel of Bien Unido, Bohol. She was reportedly kidnapped and detained by Board Member Boniel on the day he allegedly killed his wife.

Lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna Jr., one of the counsels for Board Member Boniel, said they have yet to receive a copy of the decision. He said they will seek for reconsideration.

“We have not received that as yet, and we have to make a motion for reconsideration on that if that is really true,” Dela Cerna said.

The police are now making security arrangement for the transfer of Boniel.

“We’ll be coordinating with the BJMP because as we all know, the Board Member is incarcerated at the Talibon District Jail and the thing that we can do is provide security and escort the accused to Cebu,” said Senior Superintendent Jonathan Cabal, chief of the Regional Intelligence Division of PRO-7.

Meanwhile, the family of Gisela has raised the bounty to P200,000 for the arrest of the two remaining suspects in the murder of the mayor.

Lobo Boniel and Alan de los Reyes were tagged as among the cohorts of the board member in killing his wife.

They were among the nine people charged before the Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor’s Office.