Boniel slay case: 2 suspects released

CEBU, Philippines - Two alleged conspirators in the kidnapping and killing of Bien Unido, Bohol Mayor Gisela Boniel, were released less than 24 hours after their arrest over a premature issuance of a warrant of arrest that failed to specify their names.

“I am happy to inform you that my clients Lobo Boniel and Bryan Sayson who were unlawfully arrested and detained for almost 24 hours on the basis of a warrant that did not name them by elements of PNP have been released. I think the PNP has realized its most grievous mistake. Nevertheless, we are still exploring the possibilities of filing the appropriate charges for the blatant violation of our client’s constitutional rights,” their Lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna said.

Dela Cerna said there were no grounds to arrest his clients especially as a preliminary investigation for the amending charges of parricide and kidnapping with serious illegal detention was conducted.

Sayson was the manager of the Double Barrier Reef Dive Camp during the night the mayor was allegedly dumped in the sea last June 7 while Boniel was the owner of the motorized pump boat allegedly used.

Earlier that same night, Mayor Boniel, was allegedly forcibly taken by a group of men and brought to the waters off Caubian in Lapu-Lapu City, where she was shot and dumped in the sea. Her husband, Bohol Provincial Board Member Niño Rey Boniel, is allegedly the principal suspect of the crime.

Her best friend, Angela Leyson, who was tasered and duct-taped during the abduction, said in her semi-conscious state she was still able to identify Board Member Boniel during the incident. She said he later took her to the port together with her 17-year-old son and told them not to report the incident to police.

Leyson is the complainant for the kidnapping with serious illegal detention case filed against Board Member Boniel before Regional Trial Court Branch 52 in Tagbilaran City.

Regional Intelligence Division Chief Senior Superintendent Jonathan Cabal said he ordered the release of Lobo Boniel and Sayson, after the fiscal’s office said the warrant of arrest was still premature.

“Kli-near ko kasi doon sa fiscal, allegedly hindi pa, hintayin lang natin ang information, kasi premature daw ‘yung arrest,” Cabal said.

Cabal said that it was not actually a failure on their part, but what happened was that when the complaint was filed before the Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor’s Office for the charges of parricide, the suspects in the warrant were “John Does.”

For the parricide complaint, Lobo Boniel and Sayson were named along with Restituto Magoncia Jr., Wilfredo Hoylar, Reolito “Etad” Boniel, Randel Lupas, Wilson Hoylar, and Board Member Boniel.

Cabal said he is confident that a furnished copy of the warrant of arrest will be issued in no time.

In a related development, Dela Cerna said he is deliberating suing the policemen who arrested his clients for kidnapping and serious illegal detention, grave misconduct, and graft.

Cabal said they will welcome any cases filed before their office.

“Okay lang ‘yun kasi, in good faith na man kami eh, wala kaming intention to overstep the authority kasi John Does nga sila, kasama sila, eventually paglabas na nung warrant nila, na nandoon na ‘yung mga pangalan nila…mahuhuli namin sila,” he said.

A search to find the mayor’s body was conducted but later terminated after it was determined her body may be more than 200 feet under water.

The lead counsel of the prosecution, Lanilyn Pangilinan, previously said that they are confident the corroborative and testimonial evidence they have gathered will indict the suspects. (FREEMAN)