Board Member Niño Rey Boniel will be transferred to the Talibon District Jail (TDJ) after charges for kidnapping and serious illegal detention were filed against him at a Talibon court on Wednesday, said one of the legislator’s lawyers.

Boniel has been accused of holding captive Angela Leyson, the best friend of his wife Bien Unido Mayor Gisela Boniel.

Judge Marivic Trabajo-Daray of the Regional Trial Court Branch (RTC) 52 in Talibon ordered the detention of Niño at the TDJ within 72 hours of the police’s receipt of the commitment order.

The court directive was reportedly relayed this afternoon to the Police Station 2 in Cebu City where the board member is currently being held.

Niño’s arraignment before the RTC 52 has been scheduled for June 29.

Earlier, Atty. Handel Lagunay, one of Niño’s lawyers, said that the Philippine National Police needs to uphold the court’s order on where the accused is set to be detained.

Although both charges filed against Niño are non-bailable offenses, Lagunay bared the possibility of being granted bail by the court should there be insufficient evidence against the accused.

On June 7, hours prior to Gisela’s alleged killing, Niño and several other men allegedly kidnapped Leyson who was with her 17-year-old son at the Double Barrier Reef Dive Camp.

However, Leyson only filed charges against Niño. (Rey Tutas and Allen Doydora)