THE search for Buen Unido, Bohol Mayor Gisela Boniel’s body continues despite the lack of manpower, logistics and funds for food for volunteers.
This prompted the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO) to ask government officials in Bohol, especially in Buen Unido, to provide divers, motorized bancas and money for fuel and food for the volunteers.
Yesterday, 12 divers led by Cebu City Police Station 4 Chief Jacinto Mandal, a technical diver, again scoured the waters around Caubian Island, Lapu-Lapu City for Gisela, who has been missing since June 7.
Senior Supt. Rommel Cabagnot, LCPO director, said that they used a fishfinder to check objects under the water.
They used the Lapu-Lapu City Government’s sea ambulance.
Cabagnot said they also want to borrow a pump boat from local resorts, adding that they will shoulder fuel expenses.
He admitted that their resources are limited when it comes to this kind of operation.
The 12 divers went under three times, starting past 6 a.m.
Authorities decided to suspend the operation past 2 p.m.
Gisela’s body was reportedly dumped in the area after she was allegedly shot by her husband, Bohol Provincial Board Member Niño Rey Boniel.
Cabagnot said their search will resume this morning.
Last Sunday night, a relative of Gisela went to the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 only to leave after discovering that Angela Leyson was there.
PRO 7 Director Noli Taliño said they are wondering why Gisela’s family has not reached out to them yet.
“How come no one from her immediate family has come out except for last Sunday night?” he said in Tagalog.
In an earlier interview, Leyson said that she was Gisela’s family.
On the issue of the writ of habeas corpus, Taliño said the police have all the reason to hold Niño.
“Even if he will be released on his kidnapping charges, he still has to face the parricide case and he is under custodial investigation together with his cohorts,” he said.
“They also executed a waiver of detention,” Taliño added.
The filing of parricide charges is set today in Lapu-Lapu City.
The regional director said that they will contest the order to release Niño since they filed the case within the reglamentary period.
Aside from PNP legal officers, he said they will also tap civilian lawyers.
As for speculations that Gisela is still alive, Taliño said that based on the revelations of the witness and the suspects, the mayor was killed and dumped in the sea.
“Board Member Boniel and I had an informal talk where he told me that they kidnapped, killed and dumped the mayor in the seas between Olango and Caubian Island. The bloodied boat believed to be used in the crime was also recovered,” he said.
Niño said that it was his cousin, Riolito “Etad” Boniel, who killed the mayor. Riolito, for his part, said that Niño had shot his wife.