Eyewitness testifies against Rey Nino Boniel

CEBU, Philippines — The prosecution for the kidnapping and serious illegal detention case against former Bohol Provincial Board member Niño Rey Boniel has started presenting its first witness to prove that Boniel and others kidnapped and detained the best friend of his wife, Angela Leyson and her son.

 Randel Lupas, 42, a resident of Poblacion in Bien Unido took the witness stand, eight months after the incident on June 6, 2017.

 Senior State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera manifested that the testimonies of Lupas, who was excluded as one of the accused of the case, will prove that Leyson and her son were kidnapped and detained by Boniel and others.

 Lupas, a former driver of the municipality of Bien Unido for 13 years, said his work in the municipal includes driving for late former Bien Unido Mayor Gisela Boniel, who was allegedly killed on June 7, 2017, and other public officials to their destinations.

Gisela was allegedly shot in the head and her body, wrapped in a fishnet, was thrown into the seawaters between Caubian Island and Olango Island in Lapu-Lapu City.

 Lupas narrated that on June 6, 2017, at around 9 a.m. while he was cleaning the Innova car with plate number XKK 895, Wilfredo Hoylar, one of the accused in the herein case, called him and told that Gisela will be arriving at Tagbilaran City port at around 11 a.m.

It took two hours to drive from Bien Unido to Tagbilaran City port, he said.

Lupas, however, said the arrival of Gisela was moved to 3 p.m. of the same date.

Because of the delay, they ate at a restaurant where he saw Niño Rey, Restituto Magoncia, Jr., who remained at large- Allan Delos Reyes, Jr., Lobo Boniel, and others.

They left the restaurant and proceeded to a mall, where Hoylar and their other companion bought some groceries before they went to Tagbilaran City port.

 Lupas said when they arrived at the port and around 3:15 p.m. they saw Gisela, together with her best friend, Angela Leyson and the latter’s minor son.

 When asked by the prosecutor if he knew Leyson, Lupas, in open court, pointed Leyson, who was wearing a khaki overcoat and eye glasses.

 Because of the limited time, the continuation of the direct examination of Lupas will be on March 5, 2019.

 Lawyer Amando Ligutan, the legal counsel of Leyson, told the media that they have strong evidence.

Lupas, who is their eyewitness, testified what really happened on June 6, 2017 his testimony was very detailed

He said their clients were brought inside a van and handcuffed, thus restraining their liberty. (FREEMAN)