Authorities now scouring waters for Bien Unido, Bohol Mayor Gisela Boniel’s body
(Eagle News) — Police are now searching the waters for the remains of Bien Unido, Bohol Mayor Gisela Boniel, whose killing was believed to have been masterminded by her own husband, Bohol Board Member Nino Rey Boniel, and as such is now facing criminal charges.
“As we are talking now, elements of police and coast guard are already scouring the area,” Senior Supt. Jonathan Cabal, Cebu provincial intelligence chief said over the radio.
According to Cabal, although the board member has not admitted to killing his wife, there are testimonies from witnesses that show that he had some degree of participation in the commission of some crime.
Angela Leyson, the mayor’s close friend, told reporters she and Gisela were in a resort room in Bohol when armed men barged inside early Wednesday, and assaulted them.
“Tinutukan ako dito, niwrap ang mukha ko ng duct tape, halos di ako makahinga. Tinaser ako dito,” an emotional Leyson said.
She said at one point, she heard Gisela, who appeared to have recognized one of the masked men as her husband, asking Nino not to hurt Leyson, as her (Leyson’s) 17-year-old son was only in the other room.
According to Leyson, she and her son were then made to board the van used by Nino, and which was at that time driven by his driver, Randell Lopas.
Lopas took Leyson and her son to Tubigon, Bohol.
She was reportedly told to take a boat to Cebu.
“I just heard the latest news she’s dead,” Leyson told reporters in the Cebu provincial police office, where she reported the crime.
Confession
In an ambush interview, Lopas denied knowing anything.
“Hindi ko alam sir. Blind ako sa pangyayari. Natulog lang ako sa sasakyan. Hinatid ko lang si Angela sa Tubigon,” he said.
According to Cabal, upon questioning, though, Lopas–who at one point saw the masked men remove their bonnets—identified them as Nino’s employees.
Nino also admitted to the police that his wife–who police said at one point was wrapped in a fishing net—had been killed, but emphasized that it was his cousin, Kevin Boniel, who did this while he sat on a boat, Cabal said.
“Kokonsulta muna ako sa lawyer. Bigyan niyo muna ako ng oras. Anyway in due time magbibigay ako ng statement,” Nino told reporters who interviewed him in Cebu police station where he was taken following his arrest.
Cabal said Kevin, for his part, told the media that it was Nino who shot his own wife.
“Nagpaparaffin test (si Nino). Hopefully may traces ng gunpowder residue,” Cabal said.
Motive
According to Cabal, the motive for the killing has yet to be established, but that it appears the Boniels already had marital problems.
According to Leyson, Gisela had wanted to leave Nino for the longest time, “dahil ginagamit lang (si Gisela) with the position she has.”
Cabal said police were also looking at reports Gisela–an airline commercial pilot who replaced her husband after he completed his three terms as mayor in 2016– had discovered an anomaly during Nino’s administration, and at reports Nino had gotten furious over her getting a P2.5-million loan for the purchase of a watch, and over her plans of resigning as mayor.
He said Nino was facing two counts of kidnapping with serious physical injuries, and parricide charges.
Cabal did not say what charges Kevin and Lopas were facing, if any.
The police official said they had in their custody “at least five people” who could further shed light on the incident.
