Police: Killing of Bien Unido mayor now a closed case

Police said Friday the killing of Bien Unido, Bohol Mayor Gisela Boniel is now a closed case with the arrest of suspects, including her husband, Provincial Board Member Niño Rey “In-in” Boniel.

“Yes, sir (sarado na ang kaso).  Parricide ‘yung kaso niya (board member) and serious illegal detention,” Senior Supt. Jonathan Cabal, head of the intelligence division of Region 7 Police Office, said in an interview with radio dzBB.

Cabal said they now have under their custody five to six more suspects while they are still hunting down others.

“Meron nang under custody na five to six. Iyong iba subject for hot pursuit operation,” he said.

He said one of those arrested was the driver of the vehicle used by the suspects.

“Iyong driver ni board member nakipagtulungan na. Inidentify niya na pagtanggal ng bonnet ng mga suspect e mga tauhan ni board member yung kumuha sa biktima. Kilala niya kasi magkakasama sila sa trabaho,” he said.

Cabal said the driver was the least guilty among the suspects as he was just ordered to drive the vehicle and they would use him as a witness.

“Iyong driver least guilty po siya. We need his testimony against the other suspects. Hindi naman niya kasalanan, he was just compelled,” he said.

Asked if failure to find the body of the mayor  would affect the case, Cabal replied in the negative as they have already established the case.

“Meron na pong corpus delicti na may crime na nangyari.  The fact remains na po may admission ang mga perpetrators, it will suffice.  Meron na kasing complainant na biktima ng kidnapping si Angela Leyson,” he said.

He said Board Member Boniel admitted before Region 7 police director Chief Supt. Noli Taliño that he was there when his wife was killed.

Niño Boniel claimed that it was his cousin Riolito Boniel who shot the mayor.

“Ang inaadmit niya ‘yung andun siya at binaril ng pinsan niya,” Cabal said.

But Riolito, the boatman, told police that it was the Niño Rey who killed the mayor.

“Ang itinuturo niya (board member) si [Riolito] Boniel. Hindi niya alam na nakuha na namin ‘yung pinsan niya sa isang isla sa Bohol at ang tao ko nagkapag extract ng information na si Board Member ang pumatay,” Cabal aded.

“Pinasundo ko na yung bangkero kasi ang after namin ay mahanap ang bangkay ni Mayor,” he said.

Cabal said they found out that the net and weight used by the suspect have already been prepared long before the mayor was killed.

“Ayon sa investigation, matagal nang nakaprepare yung net at pabigat sa bangka kung saan ilalagay si Mayor,” he said.

As of posting time, authorities have yet to find the body of the mayor.

Cabal also said they are still investigating the motive in the killing. — Amita Legaspi/RSJ, GMA News