Still no sign of body of Bien Unido mayor after 8 days
Where can the body of Bien Unido Mayor Gisela Boniel be? With no sign of it at all despite several dive expeditions to retrieve it, members of her family joined the search team of Lapu-Lapu City, lit candles and cast flowers. Police took saliva swabs from them, to be used for DNA testing in case a body is found at sea, Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Chief Noli Taliño said. It’s been eight days since the mayor, a commercial pilot, was thrown at sea on orders of her husband, Bohol Provincial Board Member Niño Boniel.
Bien Unido, Bohol officials belie reports that they didn't immediately try to help find Gisela Boniel after learning about her disappearance last June 7
Eight days after Bien Unido, Bohol Mayor Gisela Bendong-Boniel went missing, a team from the town joined the search for her body.
Town officials belied reports that they did not help authorities locate Gisela after her husband Bohol Provincial Board Member Niño Rey Boniel allegedly shot her last June 7.
Bien Unido Fire Marshal Edilberto Nuera said they went to Caubian last June 9 to help with the retrieval operation, but the search team of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LLCPO) had already left.
Nuera said he was accompanied four members of the town's Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (MDRRM) Council.
He said they returned to the area last Monday. This time he was accompanied by Gisela's two brothers and three sisters. But they again missed the LLCPO team led by Senior Supt. Rommel Cabagnot.
He said Gisela's siblings ended up throwing flowers on the water and offering prayers.
Yesterday, seven divers from the LLCPO were assisted by seven divers from Bien Unido.
Bien Unido MDRRM Officer Arcele Avenido said the town initially released P100,000 to support the search and retrieval operation.
The money was for their fuel expenses and for the food of volunteers.
Avenido said the Bien Unido police chief already coordinated with the LCPO director.
“Padayon mi'g serbisyo sa (Despite what happened, we continue to serve our) constituents,” she said.
On the seventh day of the search, Oscar Bendong, Gisela's cousin, joined the LLCPO team.
Yesterday's operation was led by Chief Insp. Junnel Caadlawon, LLCPO's chief for operations.
Bendong lighted seven candles and offered seven flowers. He also threw three P25-centavo coins to the water. He said it was a family tradition.
“I appeal to the sea to grant our wish that we locate my cousin,” he said in Cebuano.
In a separate interview, Caadlawon said they will continue to tap dive shops in Mactan so they can have more volunteers.
“If people notice a body floating in the sea, they must immediately call the police,” he said in Cebuano.
Among yesterday's volunteers were Cebu City Police Station 4 Chief Jacinto Mandal, Marigondon Councilor Emie Bonghanoy and Reiniro Tatoy, owner of a dive shop.