Husband, a PB member, arrested: Mayor’s body dumped at sea

CEBU, Philippines - Police combed through the waters off Caubian Island in Lapu-Lapu City yesterday afternoon in search for the body of Gisela Boniel, the mayor of Bien Unido town in Bohol who was believed to have been abducted, shot, and her remains submerged underwater.

The mayor's body was reportedly bound by a fish net with rocks weighing 30 kilos before it was immersed into the water.

Authorities have taken custody of three suspects, including Gisela’s husband, incumbent Bohol Board Member Niño Rey Boniel.

Gisela, a licensed pilot and a mother to a four-year-old son, had gone missing for nearly 48 hours since Wednesday morning.

“We are checking the waters off Punta Engaño (across Olango) because we received reports that it was thrown there,” said Senior Superintendent Jonathan Cabal, head of the Regional Intelligence Division-7.

But since they were unable to retrieve the body yesterday, the operation is expected to resume today.

Held captives

Gisela’s bestfriend, Angela Leyson, told the police she last saw the victim Wednesday dawn in a room at the Bien Unido Double Barrier Reef Dive Camp in Bohol where they were taken by their captors.

Gisela, Leyson, and Leyson’s 17-year-old son were supposed to attend a court hearing on Tuesday afternoon in Tubigon, 79 kilometers or nearly a two-hour drive from Bien Unido, when a man named “Wilson” asked them to board a van and brought them to the dive camp.

Wilson reportedly told them to spend the night there.

“We were asked to go there because there are documents that need to be signed,” Leyson told reporters yesterday.

Although she had a bad feeling that they were being led into a trap, Leyson said they decided to go with Wilson last Tuesday after the latter assured them that they won’t be hurt.

“Sabi ko, ‘This is so fishy.’ Matalas ang pakiramdam ko when it comes to dangers,” Leyson said.

They arrived at the dive camp at around 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

An hour after, Leyson, her son, and Gisela had dinner before two ladies arrived and massaged them.

Leyson said she fell asleep and woke up at around 11 p.m.

“I said there was really something wrong there,” she said.

Leyson and Gisela stayed at Room 10 while the former's son stayed in a separate room.

At around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, six to eight men suddenly came into Room 10. One of them covered Leyson’s mouth with duct tape and applied electric shock on her neck, causing her to slowly lose consciousness.

As her consciousness slowly drifted, she heard Gisela pleading to her husband: "In-in (Niño’s nickname),  ayaw si Lalay (Angela)  kay naa ang iyang anak sa pikas room."

“I was half-awake but I could see them. I could see In-in punch Gisela on the stomach,” Leyson said.

She never thought it would be the last time she’d see her bestfriend since high school.

Leyson said Niño told her not to report the matter to the media or authorities, or else he would kill her.

One of the suspects also told Leyson, “Wala ka nang pakialam rito. It’s between sa mag-asawa.”

“And I replied, kausapin niyo lang siya nang maayos,” Leyson said.

Later, Leyson, who was handcuffed, said she and her son were then asked to board a vehicle.

“Beside me inside the vehicle was someone who has worked with the Boniel family for 30 years now. He said he was assigned to kill those who will destroy the reputation of the honorable board member,” she said.

Out of fear, she cooperated with the captors.

“I just played along with them. I had to cooperate with them,” she added.

Leyson said they were brought to Tubigon where she and her son were released.

Less than 24 hours after the incident, Gisela's friends and relatives went to Cebu through the port of Tubigon to report to authorities.

They initially reported to cops in Lapu-Lapu City, who in turn filed a report to the Regional Intelligence Division.

Who’s the shooter?

The RID eventually arrested three of the suspects yesterday morning: Board Member Boniel, along with his driver Randel Lopas, and Niño’s cousin Reolito “Etad” Boniel.

They were brought to the Police Regional Office-7 in Cebu City where they are currently detained.

Cabal said Niño will face a case for parricide and serious illegal detention and physical injuries.  Police are pursuing five more persons linked to the killing.

At the PRO-7 headquarters, reporters tried to get Niño’s comment but he declined media interviews.

During interrogations, Etad, 39, said the victim’s body was thrown at sea off Barangay Caubian.  Cabal said Niño told them Etad was the one who shot Gisela.

However, Etad, who accompanied police in their search yesterday afternoon, later told reporters it was actually Niño who shot Gisela.

He said he merely served as the driver of the boat that ferried the mayor’s body enroute to the spot where it was thrown off.

Etad claimed that Niño's men wrapped the mayor's body with a fish net embedded with two rocks that weighed 30 kilos before it was dropped underwater.

Motive

PRO-7 Director Noli Taliño said they are eyeing several angles in their investigation, including money, politics, and extra-marital affair. They are considering Niño as the mastermind.

“Unang-una, identified siya noong primary witness natin na nandoon siya habang nag-aaway yung mag-asawa, then nagsisigawan sila. Nakita yung isang sasakyan na ginagamit ni Board Member Boniel near doon sa diving camp,” he said.

“May lumalabas na impormasyon na itong isa, siya yung nakakita kay board member kaya nagpatong-patong, very obvious na si board member ang mastermind,” he added.

Niño and Gisela tied the knot five years ago.

Lately, though, the couple has been mired in several misunderstandings, particularly when it came to money matters.

One time, Leyson said, Niño was enraged upon learning that his wife reportedly bought a watch worth P2.5 million through a loan.

Leyson said Gisela had wanted her marriage to Niño annulled since she believed that she was just being used by her husband, who was also a former mayor of Bien Unido.

The Commission on Audit had reportedly called out Niño over various discrepancies in government transactions during his term.

"Nagpatong-patong na. Financial problem, family problem, mayroong third party. Nagsama-sama na ang problemang ito at kaya nangyari ito," Taliño said.

Having a career of her own, Gisela would have wanted to completely leave the relationship.

“She really wants to leave. She is a pilot. She has a career of her own. She was planning to resign although she wants to resolve all issues first,” Leyson said.

“But it’s now too late.” (FREEMAN)