Police are now examining a blanket found by the team of divers searching for the remains of Bien Unido Mayor Gisela Boniel on Monday.
Police Chief Insp Jacinto Mandal who is leading the search and retrieval operations told the Chronicle that the blanket was found in waters between the islands of Caubian and Olango, Lapu-Lapu City.
According to Mandal, the printed blanket which had a hole in it was found 36 meters underwater.
The cream white blanket has already been submitted to the Cebu police crime laboratory for examination which is intended to verify if it was the blanket used to wrap Boniel’s body.
Authorities are now awaiting results of the examination, said Mandal.
Contrary to previous reports, it has not yet been verified if the stains on the blanket were blood or just dirt particularly as it has already been drenched in seawater, he added.
Previous accounts from a witness had indicated that Gisela was wrapped with a blanket when she was taken on board the motorized banca where she was allegedly shot and killed mid-sea on June 7.
Today is the 11th day of search and retrieval operations for the remains of Gisela who is presumed dead.
Authorities including the Philippine Navy have already been using gadgets such as an unmanned underwater robot, fish finder and sonar site scanner to search for the remains, but so far, to no avail.
Mandal had previously noted that divers would likely start to search in waters off Camotes Islands as the mayor’s body could have been flushed by undercurrents. (Rey Tutas)