Bohol mayor's death: Cops look for suspect's driver

CEBU CITY – The police in Central Visayas is considering as a "person of interest" the personal driver of Bohol Board Member Niño Rey Boniel, who is facing parricide charges for the death of his wife, Bien Unido, Bohol mayor Gisela Boniel.

Sr. Supt. Jonathan Cabal, who heads the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 said they are looking for Edgar Tapere, whom he believes could provide details about the death of the mayor.

CCTV footage obtained by the RID showed Tapere driving a motorcycle with Niño Rey as his passenger. Niño Rey was carrying a bag allegedly owned by his wife, Cabal said.

Cabal urged Tapere to immediately coordinate with the police to avoid being named as a suspect.

The lawyer of Niño Rey said the mayor could still be alive and may just be hiding after incurring huge debts.

Gerardo Carillo told reporters there are witnesses who claim that Gisela made phone calls some 18 hours after she was first reported missing.

Carillo said the statement of the witnesses will be included in Niño Rey’s counter affidavit.

The lawyer also said he will urge the Commission on Human Rights to investigate the claims that police were threatening the witnesses for Niño Rey into retracting their statements.

One of the suspects, Riolito Boniel, Niño Rey’s cousin, told the police he piloted the pumpboat used in bringing the body of Gisela to the sea off Caubian Island in Cebu where it was thrown overboard.

Riolito had told police it was Niño Rey who shot the mayor.