The League of Municipalities (LMP) Bohol on Tuesday offered assistance in the search for the remains of its slain member Bien Unido Mayor Gisela Boniel who is believed to have been killed and dumped in waters off Lapu-Lapu City last week.

LMP Bohol president Clarin Mayor Allen Ray Piezas told the Chronicle that he has directed his town’s police chief, Sr. Insp. Fernando Peroramas, to coordinate with officials of the search and retrieval team in Cebu to verify additional needs for their continued operations.

According to Piezas, he was informed by other mayors regarding the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office’s call for assistance in sustaining its search for Boniel’s body near Caubian Island which is part of the LCPO’s jurisdiction.

Although several volunteers and agencies already contributed to efforts in finding the mayor’s remains, LCPO director Sr. Supt. Rommel Cabagnot called on the provincial government and the LMP of Bohol to extend support as the operations have been ongoing since Thursday last week.

The LCPO had already pointed out several needs including additional pumpboats, volunteer divers, fuel and food for the operatives.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Navy started to utilize an unmanned underwater robot, a sonar site scanner and fish finder to boost search capabilities but authorities have still yet to find Boniel’s body.

Authorities have been focusing search operations in waters near Caubian and Olango Islands as Riolito “Etad” Boniel had told police that they dumped the mayor’s body in the area after she was allegedly shot and killed by her husband Provincial Board Member Nino Rey Boniel on Wednesday dawn last week.

Both Riolito, who claimed that he was the pumpboat operator during the incident, and Nino remain in detention while parricide charges were filed against them on Tuesday.

Four more suspects who were allegedly involved in the killing of Gisela are still at large, police said. (RT)