Captain Gisela
Bendong-Boniel was making waves as the first female pilot of a budget airline.
Mayor Niño Rey Boniel of
Bien Unido was making a mark, not just as one of the youngest chief executives
in Bohol but for improving his town's classification from 5th class to 4th
class.
When they got married in
2015, their constituents thought it was a union made in heaven. They elected Gisela
as mayor in 2016 to replace her husband who also won as 2nd district board
member.
On the outside, everything
looked well between the couple. But on Thursday, the residents were shocked
with the news that the body of their mayor was thrown into the sea after she
was killed by her husband.
Danilo Salabe, 40, said he
didn’t expect that tragedy would fall on their favorite couple.
“We were sad when we heard
the news,” said Danilo, who is managing the Dive Camp.
 |
Happier times. Board
member Niño Rey Boniel with his
wife Mayor Gisela Bendong-Boniel. File Photo/Nestor Daarol
|
Another resident, Eisen
Avenido, 51, described the couple as “good people.”
“Mayor Giselle is very
close to the people, especially the senior citizens. She is a pilot, young,
pretty and on top of it, a mayor,” he added.
Gay Mabanag-Delima, 36,
councilor of Barangay Poblacion in Bien Unido said the news about the Boniel
couple left them in a state of shock.
“How I wish they will not
be able to find her body so there is still a chance that she is alive,” she
said.
Gisela, 40 and a native of
Iligan City, had made history in the male-dominated aviation industry as the
first female pilot of AirAsia Philippines with a rank of captain.
Her high school friends
said that she had always been fascinated by planes since she was a little girl.
In turning her dream into a reality, she inspired other women to take courage
in pursuing their aspirations.
On Feb. 28, 2016, she
received a commendation for outstanding airmanship after she steered an AirAsia
plane to safety at Mactan Cebu International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City even if
the plane only had one working engine.
Niño also made his own
mark in his town in Bien Unido, about 108 km from the capital Tagbilaran City.
Although he is from Bohol,
he studied in Cebu and a product of the University of San Carlos where he
studied from elementary to college. He finished Bachelor of Arts in Political
Science and later took up Law while running his businesses. But he dropped out
in his second year in law school because of his work.
Aside from an insurance
firm, Niño owned Diamond Trading that imports vehicles from Japan and a
restaurant in SM City. He was a also a Director of ABN Dreamworks Corporation.
Niño returned to Bien Unido to follow
the footsteps of his father Cosme who
became a town mayor in 1980s.
 |
| Bohol Board member Niño Rey Boniel |
At 29, he was elected
mayor in 2007 election and was the second youngest chief executive in Bohol's
history.
During his term, he
elevated Bien Unido’s economic status from 5th to 4th class town. He also tried
to put the town in the tourism map by joining the Sinulog Grand Parade in Cebu
and the Sandugo Festival in Bohol.
He also put up the Dive
Camp, an accommodation to bring in tourists and divers who wanted to experience
the Bien Unido Double Barrier Reef.
The Danajon Reef is the
only documented double barrier reef in the Philippines and reportedly, one of
only six in the entire world. Niño also improved the water system and
infrastructure, while addressing the other concerns such as health and
sanitation, livelihood and peace and order.
Niño was also instrumental
in curbing illegal fishing in the coastal municipality. He put up underwater
grotto near the coral reefs of the Danajon Double Barrier Reef consisting of
14-foot tall statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Sto. Niño (the Child
Jesus).
“Illegal fishers will be scared when they see
these images,” he told the reporters during the launching several years ago.
Since the mayor was a
bachelor, his constituents were curious if he would settle down and with whom
since he was seen with several women. Most of his ex-girlfriends were older
than him.
In 2010, Niño introduced
Gisela to his friends. Five years later, the two got married. They have a
three-year-old son.
The Boniel couple had a promising political
career especially that they looked good together and had good credentials, said
a local official who asked not be named.
 |
| Bien Unido Mayor Gisela Bendong-Boniel |
Indeed, Gisela won over
the hearts of the residents of Bien Unido when she ran for mayor in 2016. She
had grand plans for the town that remained underdeveloped and unfrequented by
tourists unlike other towns in Bohol.
When she was sworn into
office last year, Gisela said her priorities would be to bring in tourists as
well as provide health services, education and livelihood to her constituents.
Since she was criticized
by her lack of experience in public service, Gisela took a crash course in
local governance at the National College of Public Administration and
Governance in Quezon City.
Although Niño and Gisela
were seen together in public functions, their marriage started to rock in
December last year when Gisela was attacked on Facebook by her husband's
political opponents and was dragged into controversies involving her husband.
Financial problems also
took a toll on her marriage after Gisela took out a big loan to finance a watch
business and to buy a watch worth P2.5 million. Niño reportedly got angry
because Gisela could not pay off her debts. But some close friends of the couple
told the Inquirer that what infuriated Niño was Gisela's move to file a
petition for annulment.
“She discovered that her
husband used her for his political advancement,” said another friend.
Friends of Gisela have
taken to social media to express their sadness over her reported death.
Loraine Anne Marie Baguio,
a flight attendant at AirAsia Philippines, posted on Facebook: “I still can’t
believe this news. Really?? A very reputable woman pilot was killed by her
husband?? Rest in peace Capt Gisel. I am deeply hurt right now and I know the
Air Asia family is also sad by this sudden news. May justice prevail in your
death. My condolences to the Biel family.”
One of her friends, Grace,
posted her photos with Gisela on her Facebook account. The caption read:
“Giselle I am going to miss you more than words can say.”
“I can’t believe such a
beautiful soul is gone so soon,” she said.
Rep. Erico Aristotle
Aumentado of Bohol’s second district said that he was saddened by the tragic
events involving the couple who was close to him.
“We all have our own
marital problems which we try to solve in a discreet and private manner. I
understand that lives of politicians take so much of one’s time from the
family. This sometimes breaks down the closeness of siblings,” Aumentado said.
“While I wish to
understand their situation, we also have laws to obey. Let justice move,” he
added.
Bohol Gov. Edgar M. Chatto
said they did not know that the couple had problems.
“Board Member Boniel
deserves due process as he is brought to the bar of justice,” he said in a
statement.
***
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