Don’t stop search, slain mayor’s kin tell cops

CEBU CITY—Relatives of slain Mayor Gisela Boniel of Bien Unido town in Bohol province have asked the police to continue scouring the waters off Bohol and Cebu provinces until her body is found.

Their appeal came after police officials said the search for Boniel, who was believed dumped into the sea between Bien Unido and Caubian Island in Lapu-Lapu City, might end next week. Boniel was allegedly shot and killed by her husband, Bohol Board Member Niño Rey Boniel, on June 7.

A complaint for parricide was filed against Niño and eight others in the Lapu-Lapu city prosecutor’s office. Niño, who denied killing his wife, is detained at the Fuente Osmeña police station stockade here.

“We’re looking at a period of 15 days [since we started the search and retrieval operations on June 8],” said Chief Supt. Noli Taliño, director of the Central Visayas police office, referring to the search period.

“Once we utilize the necessary equipment and still we could not find the body, then we have to stop,” he added.

But the mayor’s relatives said their priority was to find her.

“We … are deeply saddened for this sudden loss. We are closely coordinating with the authorities. Our main priority now is to locate her,” according to a note distributed to reporters on Wednesday.

“The case is now under the hands of authorities and we are certain that justice for our sister will be served,” it added.

Not soliciting financial help

Boniel’s siblings said they were not asking for any financial assistance in trying to recover her body.

“Rumors have been circulating that the family is asking [for a certain] amount for the retrieval [operations]. We would like to inform our friends, relatives and Gisela’s friends that the family is not asking for any amount or [soliciting funds] for the retrieval of the body or for any [other] purpose,” they said.

They also asked the public to respect their privacy. Boniel, a commercial pilot, was a native of Iligan City.

Three of Boniel’s relatives from Iligan City and Siquijor province went to Hilton Wharf in Lapu-Lapu City on Wednesday morning but failed to join the search and retrieval operation.

Boniel’s aunt, Angeles Bendong, said they heard about her death from news reports last week, prompting them to travel to Lapu-Lapu City to get updates directly from authorities involved in the search.

P100,000 donation

Acting Bien Unido Mayor Rene Borinaga, in a report aired over dyTR radio station in Bohol, said town officials agreed to donate P100,000 to the regional police to help defray expenses in the search for Boniel.

On Friday, policemen searched the Boniel couple’s house in the village of Guadalupe in Bien Unido for a gun registered under Niño.

But policemen failed to find a gun or any other material that might have been used in the mayor’s killing.

“The search yielded negative results,” said Senior Insp. Windell Abella of the police’s Regional Special Operations Group.

Present during the search were a representative from the village council and lawyer Gerardo Carillo, who represents Niño.

“We are actually expecting a search, and perhaps they will also search another house of the accused. We will be prepared as we are prepared today,” Carillo said.

“We just told them to be fair. Whatever they find inside the house, that’s it,” he added.