Cops nab two in Boniel slay

CEBU, Philippines — After more than a year of hiding, two suspects in the murder of the late Mayor Gisela Boniel of Bien Unido, Bohol in June 2017 were arrested in Lapu-Lapu City yesterday.

The suspects, Lobo Boniel and Alan delos Reyes Jr., were included in the region’s most wanted list.

“We’re happy to announce that we were able to arrest the number 4 and number 5 regional most wanted,” Police Colonel Jonathan Cabal, director of the Bohol Provincial Police Office, said in a press conference.

Cabal said there was an original warrant of arrest that has been released by the Lapu-Lapu City court, but recently, Judge Cristine Abad of RTC Branch 70 of Lapu-Lapu City issued another warrant against the two since they were not yet unaccounted for.

“Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas directed us to really account the most wanted persons… and we’re lucky that this morning we were able to get the information na the two (suspects) are hiding in Lapu-Lapu,” Cabal said, quoting an information he got from the people in Bohol.

During Lobo Boniel’s arrest, they were able to confiscate one calibre. 45 pistol with six ammunitions and a police uniform which was an inner garment of a police field uniform and one cellphone.

The uniform was allegedly from Patrolman Nikko Ababon in Lapu-Lapu who owns the house where Boniel was hiding.

Boniel and delos Reyes were allegedly part of the late mayor’s murder.

Boniel was arrested in Babag, while delos Reyes was arrested in Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City.

Cabal added that one legal counsel allegedly told delos Reyes to hide, quoting the suspect’s testimony during the police investigation.

Delos Reyes was allegedly also involved in illegal drugs, Cabal said. — GAN (FREEMAN)