MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has withdrawn the parricide charges filed against a member of the provincial board of Bohol who was accused of killing his mayor wife.
In a resolution issued recently, the DOJ granted a petition for review filed by Bohol board member Nino Rey Boniel.
It also reversed and set aside a resolution issued by the Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor’s Office recommending the filing of charges against Boniel and two other accused.
Boniel was accused of shooting his wife Gisela and dumping her body into the sea in June last year.
Gisela was mayor of Bien Unido town when she was reportedly seized by unidentified men.
Aside from the charges against Boniel, DOJ Undersecretary Reynante Orceo ordered the Office of the Prosecutor to withdraw the murder charges filed against Willy Hoylar and Restituto Magoncia Jr.
The charges were based on the testimony of an employee of the Bien Unido municipal hall who tagged Boniel as the killer.
Orceo said the investigating prosecutor erred when it ruled that Boniel should be tried for the death of his wife.
He said the Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor’s Office did not have jurisdiction over the case.