NBI sues councilor for grave misconduct

CEBU – Another case has been filed against a town councilor of Bien Unido, Bohol, who allegedly shot it out with National Bureau of Investigation operatives who were serving a search warrant against him for illegal possession of firearms.

The NBI filed last Friday a case for grave misconduct against Regalado Bunado before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas. The case was on top of the three criminal charges that the NBI previously filed against him before the provincial prosecutors’ office in Bohol.

NBI regional director Medardo De Lemos attached the files of the charges for illegal possession of firearms, direct assault and murder as supporting evidence for the administrative complaint of grave misconduct against Bunado.

Bunado, barangay captain of Nueva Esperanza and ex-officio member of the municipal council being the president of the Association of Barangay Councils of Bien Unido, was charged with murder, illegal position of firearms and direct assault.

He was accused of killing his councilman Rito Boniel, on September 12. Bunado also allegedly exchanged gunfire with the NBI operatives last October 29 when the law enforcers served the search warrant for illegal possession of firearms issued against him by Regional Trial Court judge Geraldine Faith Econg in Cebu City.

Bunado was injured during the incident after a member of the team led by supervising agent Jose Ermie Monsanto hit him in the nape, resulting to his eventual surrender and arrest.

Bunado is said to be a toughie in his barangay and was even a suspect in a series of murders in Bien Unido. Neighbors also claimed he is a sorcerer who practices witchcraft in their place.

In support of this, NBI operatives recovered several items including two human skull, pins and voodoo dolls. — Fred P. Languido/BRP (THE FREEMAN)