THE lawyer of one of the boatmen who allegedly dumped the body of Bien Unido Mayor Gisela Bendong-Boniel said on Monday, June 3, that his client will answer all allegations of involvement in the kidnapping and killing of the mayor.
Lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna said his client, Allan delos Reyes Jr., was given 10 days to file his counter affidavit, answering all allegations.
"Mismo karong hapon or ugma, ako nang ingnan ang panel of prosecutors nga kami mutubag na sa tanang mga gipasangil niya (Delos Reyes) (I will immediately talk to the panel of prosecutors this afternoon or tomorrow and tell him that we will be answering all allegations against Delos Reyes)," Dela Cerna said.
Aside from Delos Reyes, Dela Cerna's other clients were Lubo Boniel, Wilson Hoylar and Brian Boniel Saycon.
Delos Reyes was allegedly onboard the pump boat with Gisela's husband, Bohol Provincial Board Member Niño Rey Boniel, and Riolito "Etad" Boniel.
Gisela was allegedly shot by Niño Rey and her body was dumped in the waters off Caubian Island in Lapu-Lapu City on June 7.
Niño Rey was charged with parricide, illegal detention and kidnapping, while Delos Reyes, Lubo, Hoylar and Saycon were charged with parricide.
The case was filed past 2 p.m. of June 13 at the Lapu-Lapu City Hall of Justice.
But Delos Reyes denied any knowledge of the case filed against him.
Niño Rey, in his counter-affidavit to the parricide charges lodged against him and four others, denied killing his wife. He said Gisela is not dead and might only be hiding.
“My wife, Gisela, has all the reasons to hide or even feign death because she is neck-deep buried in debts of several millions,” said Niño in his eight-page counter-affidavit.
Niño Rey added that the supposed witnesses -- Riolito “Etad” Boniel and Randel Lupas -- were pressured by the police to come up with a “fabricated tale” to pin him down. (With Jo Ann Sablad/SunStar Philippines)