CEBU, Philippines - Are the police coercing witnesses in the Mayor Gisela Boniel case?
Lawyers of the alleged mastermind of Boniel’s killing, her husband, Bohol Board Member Niño Rey Boniel, believe so and will seek assistance from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
"Klaro man nga napugos ang ubang mga testigo nga mo-testify. Naay influence sa kapulisan so we will be asking assistance from the Commission on Human Rights nga probably, we will transfer asa sila ma-detain. What we're asking is, we will be given a fair trial in this case nga wala’y influence ni bisa'g kinsa," said lawyer Gerardo Carillo.
He, however, would not specify the witnesses.
“Just wait, until we will be filing,” Carillo added.
Carillo and fellow defense lawyers Handel Lagunay and Inocencio Dela Cerna agreed to seek CHR help following a case conference yesterday.
Untrue
Senior Supt. Jonathan Cabal, chief of the Regional Intelligence Division, belied the allegations.
“Those are not true. The witnesses voluntarily narrated everything. Walang intimidation na nangyari, walang force, at mas lalong walang exertion. Media were there when we brought Riolito sa crime scene, walang nangyaring exertion. You can refer to the videos of the media covering the event,” said Cabal.
Riolito Boniel, Niño Rey’s cousin, was the one who tagged the board member as mastermind.
Riolito also claimed having maneuvered the boat that brought Gisela’s body to the sea off Mactan Island in Cebu where Niño Rey allegedly shot her before dumping his wife’s body into the water.
This week, the police filed parricide charges against Niño Rey and his alleged conspirators, Riolito included.
Carillo said they are set to file controverting evidence.
“We will prepare for the submission of the affidavit kay amo mang nakita nga hangtod karon, wa gihapon makit-i ang patay nga lawas so posible nga buhi pa to. Duna man sad ta’y ebidensiya nga nanawag siya 18 hours after she reportedly died. In the absence of these elements - walay armas, walay patay nga lawas - how can they prove the fact of death? Manghinaot mi, when we submit our counter affidavit, nga i-consider heavily dinha sa atong piskalya,” Carillo said.
Until yesterday, divers still failed to retrieve Gisela’s body after covering the 12th quadrant of the 1.5-kilometer area believed to be where she was dumped – her body wrapped in a net weighed down by rocks weighing 30 kilos.
Niño Rey and his co-accused, Wilfredo Hoylar, and Restituto Magoncia, Jr., are detained at Police Station 2.
Carillo said the board member never asked for special treatment.
Police Evidence
For its part, Cabal said they have new evidence that can support the case against Niño Rey.
He said they are now in possession of footages from the closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera from a hotel in Punta Engaño in Mactan, from the Lapu-Lapu City government, the Mandaue City government, as well as from the subdivision in Cebu City where the Boniels own a house.
Cabal said the footages show, among others, Niño Rey in a black hoodie being fetched by a black motorcycle early in the morning. The motorcycle was reportedly driven by a certain Edgar Tapere, Niño Rey’s driver in Cebu.
“Iyun naman ang sabi ng ating witnesses. He was seen in a hoodie jacket travelling Cebu bound crossing ng Maribago. Very clear ang mukha niya. He’s carrying a bag. Pati doon sa guard ng Monterrazas sa pagdating niya kasi pagkapatay niya kay mayor ay umuwi siya ng Monterrazas, he’s carrying a bag, with his firearm tsaka ang passport ng bata tsaka iyung mga gamit na nakuha,” Cabal said.
Cabal said the CCTV cameras also captured Niño Rey leaving the Cebu City port for Tubigon, Bohol at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 7.
“He wore the same clothes ng pumunta siya ng Buen Unido police station bandang alas tres ng tanghali para i-report ang pakawala daw ni mayor,” Cabal said.
Tapere who has gone missing is now considered a person of interest.
“He’s person of interest… ang problema namin ay nawawala siya. Hinahanap namin siya sa bahay niya. I’m worried baka hindi siya nakipag-cooperate doon sa mga goons ni board member ay baka mapatay siya dahil siya lang naman ang nakakaalam kung saan na iyung baril,” Cabal said.
Prayers
Yesterday, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma called for prayers for Gisela, the mayor of Bien Unido town in Bohol, and her family.
“Dunay mga panghitabo nga makaingon kita suma-subo dili angay pero …mao man kini ang mga lain-laing krimen nga nahitabo sa kalibutan no. We can only pray for the soul…. ug sa family ang atong…pag-ampo nga unta they can take kining crisis ba, kining challenge pagkamatay sa ilang hinigugma with courage and strength,” Palma said.
“Our wish that the authority, they will find a way to exact justice,” he said. — With Jolito C. Mosqueda, CNU Intern/JMO (FREEMAN)