MANILA -- Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Monday said that he will review the dismissal of the parricide case against Bohol Provincial Board Member (BM) Nino Rey Boniel, the alleged mastermind in the murder of his wife Gisela, who was mayor of Bien Unido town in Bohol.
Aguirre made the statement after the agency drew flak anew for Boniel's exoneration over the killing of his wife.
"Rest assured that I will make the necessary correction if I have to," Aguirre told reporters on Monday.
Aguirre was at the convention of prosecutors in General Santos City last week when the resolution was released by the DOJ.
He clarified that while the resolution was issued by his office, it was signed by Undersecretary Reynante Orceo who was assigned to review the case.
"I'm going to meet with the Usec involved and hopefully he would be able to explain to me what happened and whether it was the correct decision," Aguirre explained.
Aguirre was surprised by the withdrawal of the cases against Boniel and two other accused, Willy Hoylar and Restituto Magoncia Jr., through a petition for review resolution that reversed and set aside the earlier finding of probable cause by the Lapu-Lapu City prosecutor’s office.
The review resolution set aside the earlier resolution of investigation prosecutors in Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu for lack of jurisdiction.
“Wherefore, in view of the foregoing, the instant petition for review is granted and assailed Resolution dated 28 June 2017 of the Office of the City Prosecutor of Lapu-Lapu City is hereby granted and set aside,” read the 12-page resolution signed by Justice Undersecretary Reynante Orceo.
Orceo, however, said there is still a pending kidnapping complaint against Boniel before the Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor’s Office.
“It should be noted that a case for kidnapping is still pending in Bohol, whereby the same set of evidence has been presented to pursue the case against the herein respondent-appellant. The allegation that Mayor Gisela was killed by respondent-appellant was likewise presented before the prosecution office of Bohol by virtue of Riolito’s sworn statement,” he said.
Boniel is currently detained at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center. (PNA)
