IS Bien Unido, Bohol Mayor Gisela Bendong-Boniel still alive? Provincial Board Member Niño Rey Boniel, her husband, thinks so.
“My wife Gisela has all the reasons to hide or even feign death because she is neck-deep in debt amounting to several millions,” said Niño in his counter-affidavit.
Niño said Roilito "Etad" Boniel and Randel Lupas, who allegedly saw him kill Gisela, were “pressured” by the police to come up with a “fabricated tale” to pin him down.
“That all these accusations against me are not true that I deny them all with vehemence,” he said.
He submitted his affidavit to counter the parricide charges the Regional Intelligence Division 7 filed against him and four others before the Office the Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor.
Also charged with the offense were Lubo Boniel, Allan delos Reyes Jr., Wilson Hoylar and Brian Boniel Saycon.
Denial
In his counter-affidavit, the 38-year-old said that he was “extremely disturbed and alarmed” by the filing of the parricide charges based on the affidavits of Riolito and Lupas.
He denied killing his wife, saying that the witnesses changed their statements to implicate him.
“The complaint is intentionally crafted by the investigators and forced upon to suit their move to file (the parricide case),” he said.
Niño also raised the possibility that Gisela is still alive after journalist Raul Gatal of Bohol Chronicle reportedly talked to the mayor about 18 hours after he heard the report of her alleged abduction and killing on June 7.
Niño admitted having a falling-out with Gisela due to monetary issues and marital infidelity that led them to file an annulment case.
“That, as of now, the only reason that I could think of for her sudden disappearance, if not, feigning death, is her neck-high debts to different creditors,” he said.
“Had I the intention of killing her, I could have done it inside a hotel room with her paramour," he added.
Niño said the filing of parricide charges was premature since authorities were searching for Gisela's body when police lodged the complaint before the prosecutor's office.
Niño is accused of shooting Gisela on June 7. Her body was allegedly dumped off Caubian Island in Lapu-Lapu City.
Niño Rey was charged with parricide, illegal detention, and kidnapping.
A non-violent solution
In a related development, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma joined the call for justice for Gisela.
“We are all consistent in our teachings about love and care for the family, but there are circumstances that are beyond the human effort. We lament their unfortunate fate. We pray more positively that families will draw closer to the Lord and ask for guidance,” he told reporters.
Palma lamented that he was saddened by how an earlier marital issue between Gisela and Niño, which reportedly stemmed from financial woes and jealousy, ended bitterly for the two.
“We can only pray for the soul of the faithfully departed and to the family for them to overcome this crisis. Our wish is for the authorities to find a way to exact justice for the sake of the family,” Palma said.