A CEBU City court has granted the prosecution's motion to discharge as state witnesses two of the accused in the murder of Bien Unido Mayor Gisela Boniel.
Regional Trial Court Branch 22 Pairing Judge Jose Nathaniel Andal found enough basis to allow Riolitio Boniel and Randel Lupas to testify against Boniel's husband, former Bohol Provincial Board member Niño Rey Boniel.
Lupas and Riolitio earlier accused Niño Rey of masterminding the abduction and murder of Gisela in July 2017.
In the same decision dated September 25, 2018, Andal denied the motion to quash the charges against Wilfredo Hoylar and Restituto Magoncia Jr., the fellow accused of Niño Rey.
Hoylar and Magoncia, in their plea, moved to "quash the information (charge sheet) on ground that element of 'deprivation' or 'deprivation of one's liberty' in kidnapping and serious illegal detention is totally wanting, implying that the acts charged do not constitute an offense."
"The information actually states that the accused acted 'with criminal intent to deprive the victims of their liberty,' which is the very essence of kidnapping and serious illegal detention. Hence, the motion to quash information cannot prosper," read Andal's omnibus order. (KAL)