A year after Gisela Boniel’s death: Murder, parricide cases still to start

CEBU, Philippines —  A year after the death of Mayor Gisela Boniel of Bien Unido, Bohol, the parricide and murder cases filed against her alleged perpetrators are still about to start rolling in court.

Lawyer Amando Virgil Ligutan, legal counsel for the family of Gisela, said Bohol Provincial Board Member Niño Rey Boniel and other accused Riolito Boniel, Randel Lupas, Wilfredo Hoylar, Restituto Magoncia, Jr., Allan Delos Reyes, Jr., and Lobo Boniel will be arraigned on June 14 before the Regional Trial Court in Lapu-Lapu City.

Gisela was allegedly shot in the head and her body was thrown into the seawaters between Caubian Island and Olango Island in Lapu-Lapu City on June 7, 2017.

Niño Rey and others were supposed to be arraigned last December 8, 2017 before the Regional Trial Court Branch 57 in Cebu City, for allegedly conspiring in killing Gisela, but it was moved.

The scheduled arraignment was differed, following the order that all Lapu-Lapu City cases tried in Cebu City RTC will be returned back to its original court.

In compliance with the directive of the Supreme Court, the Cebu City RTC assisted the courts of Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City where they handled the newly filed cases.

Private Mass

Ligutan said the family of Gisela will be holding a private Mass at the latter’s hometown in Iligan City today.  He said the family is now getting ready for the scheduled arraignment, which they said is a welcome development.

Lawyer Gerardo Carillo, legal counsel of Niño Rey, said his client is ready for the arraignment.

He said that Niño Rey, who is detained at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), is doing fine.

Section 7 of the Speedy Trial Act of 1998 states the arraignment of an accused shall be held within 30 days from the filing of the information or from the date accused has appeared before the court in which the charge was pending.

Carillo, however, said the delay was reasonable.

He added they did not invoke the right of the accused to a speedy disposition of the case because they had filed a petition for review before the Department of Justice questioning the arrest of Niño Rey.

He said his client was arrested without a warrant of arrest.

Aside from the parricide case, Niño Rey and others were also charged of kidnapping and serious illegal detention before the RTC in Cebu City.

The three accused were already arraigned where they pleaded not guilty to the offense charged.

The pretrial of the kidnapping and serious illegal detention will be on September 5.

Allegedly, before Gisela was killed, she and her childhood friend Angela Leyson, and Pete Leyson were kidnapped by the accused.

At-large

Lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna, legal counsel of Delos Reyes and Lobo, said his clients have yet to be arrested. The two already have a pending warrant of arrest.

Meanwhile, Mikay Bendong, the older sister of Gisela who hails from Isabela, Iligan City, expressed her longing over the death of her sister.

She said that she hasn’t moved on until now.

She recalled that every time she gets to have a glimpse of the sea, she could help but had the urge to cry.

“Hinaot unta makakita ko og star, mahagbong sa dagat and naa didto bisan iya bone man lang," she said, with her voice suppressing a sob.

Mikay wished for principal suspect, Gisela's husband and Bohol Provincial Board Member Niño Rey Boniel, to spill out the truth.

"Nanghinaot lang mi nga motug-an siya (Niño Rey Boniel) sa tinuod.. mao lang na amo gihangyo sa tibuok pamilya,” she said.

Mikay said that every 5 a.m., Gisela would be present in her dreams but would no longer talk. — Mae Clydyl L. Avila/GAN (FREEMAN)