Gisela Zambrano Bendong, born May 21, 1977, in Iligan City, Philippines, seemed destined for the skies. Inspired by her family of pilots, she graduated from Cebu Aeronautical Technical School and carved out a successful 16-year career.

In March 2015, she made history as the first female captain for AirAsia Philippines, a milestone celebrated during Women’s Month when she captained an all-female crew flight. Captain Gisela Boniel was an icon of female empowerment in a male-dominated industry.

Her personal life seemed equally triumphant. She was married to Niño Rey Boniel, the scion of a political dynasty in Bien Unido, Bohol. Niño, born in 1979, followed his father into politics, becoming the mayor of Bien Unido in 2007 at the young age of 27.

His tenure saw the municipality’s economic status improve, boosted by tourism initiatives like promoting the town’s unique double barrier reef and establishing an underwater grotto featuring religious statues.

The couple met in 2010, introduced by friends concerned Niño might remain a bachelor. They had a civil wedding in 2012 after Gisela became pregnant with their son, followed by a grand church wedding in 2015. To the public, they were Bohol’s power couple, their union described as “made in heaven.”

Gisela’s popularity was undeniable, and in 2016, after Niño completed his third term as mayor, she successfully ran for the position herself, while Niño secured a seat as a Bohol Provincial Board Member.

But behind the perfect facade, the marriage was rapidly disintegrating. According to Gisela’s best friend, Angela Leyson, Niño had pressured Gisela into running for mayor solely to maintain the family’s political influence.

Gisela, inexperienced and uninterested in politics, felt like a “robot” and a “trophy wife,” controlled by her husband. She struggled with the harsh realities of political attacks, where Niño’s opponents dragged her name into controversies involving alleged corruption.

Financial problems added immense strain. Gisela had reportedly taken out large loans for business ventures, and her purchase of a watch allegedly worth PHP 2.5 million infuriated Niño, who worried about their mounting debts.

The couple’s arguments escalated, reportedly involving physical abuse by Niño. Gisela felt trapped and desperately wanted out. Five days before she vanished, she moved out, determined to file for annulment and resign as mayor.

On June 6, 2017, Gisela was in Tagbilaran City with Angela, initiating the annulment process and filing a graft complaint against Niño concerning PHP 2 million worth of allegedly uncompleted projects.

Despite planning to travel to Cebu, Gisela was persuaded by her staff, Wilson Hoylar and Brian Sayson (allegedly acting on Niño’s instructions), to check into a resort in Bien Unido instead. They claimed she needed to sign important documents related to her annulment and resignation there.

In the early hours of June 7, 2017, around 2 a.m., Angela Leyson stated that six to eight armed men burst into their resort room. Angela was quickly subdued—her mouth covered with duct tape, shocked with a taser, and punched in the stomach until she collapsed.

As she lay on the floor, she heard Gisela pleading desperately with Niño, who was present, begging him not to harm them. Before losing consciousness, Angela saw a man holding a gun to Gisela’s head while Gisela continued to plead for the safety of others.

Hours later, Angela was awakened by two men and told to get her son from the next room. They were forcibly taken to Tubigon port. During the drive, one of Niño’s staff members allegedly bragged about being willing to eliminate anyone who tarnished the Boniel family’s reputation.

At Tubigon, they were given ferry tickets to Cebu, seemingly to create the illusion that Gisela had left Bohol voluntarily. Before being released, Angela was threatened: stay silent, or face the consequences, boasting about the Boniel family’s far-reaching influence.

But Angela refused to be intimidated. Upon reaching Cebu, she immediately contacted Gisela’s family and friends, reporting that Mayor Gisela Boniel had been abducted by her own husband and his men.

The police acted swiftly. On June 8, Niño Rey Boniel and several accomplices were arrested. One of those arrested was Niño’s cousin, Riolito “Etad” Boniel. Riolito quickly confessed to his role in the horrific crime. He told investigators that Niño himself had shot Gisela in the head while they were aboard Riolito’s pump boat out at sea.

After confirming she was de@d, they wrapped her body in a heavy fishnet, weighted it down with two large rocks (estimated at 30kg each), and dumped her remains in the waters between Olango Island and Caubian Island in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. Riolito admitted his boat was used for the gruesome task.

After disposing of the body, Niño asked Riolito to take him to Lapu-Lapu City. Before parting ways, Niño gave him an envelope containing PHP 10,000, warning him in Visayan, “Here, keep quiet.”

Riolito led authorities to the spot where they had allegedly disposed of Gisela’s body. An extensive search and retrieval operation involving divers, the Philippine Coast Guard, and even a paranormal expert consulted later, commenced.

Despite Riolito’s guidance, Gisela’s body was never recovered. The depth of the water, strong currents, and challenging underwater terrain hampered the efforts. After 26 days, the search was officially called off due to dwindling resources and lack of success.

While the search was ongoing, Niño and his accomplices faced formal charges. Kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges were filed based on Angela Leyson’s complaint. Later, Niño was charged with parricide for Gisela’s presumed de@th, while his cohorts faced murder charges.

Niño vehemently denied all allegations. In a counter-affidavit, his defense argued that Gisela was still alive, suggesting she had orchestrated her disappearance to escape massive debts, even claiming she had used their house as collateral. He also resurrected accusations of infidelity against Gisela.

Two alleged accomplices, Allan Delos Reyes Jr. and Lobo Boniel, managed to evade capture for over two years but were finally arrested in September 2019, found in possession of firearms and police uniforms. Lobo was believed to be one of the masterminds, while Delos Reyes allegedly helped wrap and dispose of the body. Both pleaded not guilty.

The case proceeded slowly through the Philippine justice system. Then, in February 2022, nearly five years after Gisela vanished, Niño Rey Boniel made a stunning reversal.

As part of a plea bargain agreement, he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of homicide instead of parricide. Lapu-Lapu City RTC Judge Christine Muga-Abad accepted the plea and sentenced him to serve 8 years and 1 day to 14 years, 8 months, and 1 day in prison.

The private prosecutor stated that Gisela’s family accepted the plea deal, finding closure in Niño’s admission of guilt. Niño’s guilty plea had a ripple effect; the murder charges against his accomplices were subsequently downgraded to homicide, potentially reducing their sentences as well.

Niño Rey Boniel remains incarcerated, still facing the separate kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges filed by Angela Leyson. Gisela Boniel’s body has never been found, leaving her family without a final resting place to mourn the accomplished pilot and mayor whose life was so brutally cut short by the man she once loved.