Raps vs Bohol board member reinstated

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has reinstated the charges filed against Bohol provincial board member Niño Rey Boniel over the killing of his wife, Gisela, the mayor of Bien Unido town.

In a five-page resolution released yesterday, Aguirre reversed a resolution issued by his office last January that dismissed the parricide charges against Boniel and murder against Willy Hoylar and Restituto Magoncia Jr.

Aguirre set aside the findings of Undersecretary Reynante Orceo that the charges filed before the Lapu-Lapu City prosecutor’s office should be withdrawn for lack of jurisdiction.

“The information for parricide sufficiently alleged that the offense was committed in the waters off Lapu-Lapu City, where Niño Boniel killed his wife and... dumped the body,” the latest resolution of the Department of Justice read.

Since the charges had been filed before the Lapu-Lapu court,  Aguirre said it is “proper and prudent” not to interfere with the court.

He ordered the local prosecutor’s office to refile the charges against the respondents.

Boniel was accused of shooting his wife and dumping her body into the sea in June last year.

The charges were based on the testimony of an employee of the Bien Unido municipal hall who tagged Boniel as the killer.