GISELA KILLING
THE PARRICIDE case against Bohol Provincial Board Member Niño Rey Boniel is heading back to the Lapu-Lapu City trial court.
The Supreme Court (SC) recently directed the trial courts in Cebu City, which were handling cases from the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, to return them to their point of origin.
In 2015, the SC mandated some judges in Cebu City to step in and assist their colleagues in the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue which had more cases than their ideal case load.
Boniel, who was accused of killing his wife, was supposed to be arraigned at the Regional Trial Court Branch 57 in Cebu City on Friday.
However, it had to be cancelled following the High Court’s recent order.
Boniel’s lawyer Gerardo Carillo said they have no choice but to abide by the High Court’s ruling.
“It’s the Supreme Court who ordered it, so we need to follow,” he said in a phone interview.
Last month, the SC approved the request of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre and the camp of the victim to have the case for kidnapping and serious illegal detention against Boniel transferred from Bohol to Cebu.
Boniel stands accused of kidnapping and killing his wife, Bien Unido Mayor Gisela Bendong Boniel, last June.
Angela Leyson, Gisela’s close friend, also filed kidnapping and serious illegal detention complaints against Boniel, who allegedly held her and her son against their will inside a resort in Bien Unido.