Ibajay, Aklan vice mayor gunned down; 2 students shot in Nueva Ecija school

Vice Mayor Julio M. Estolloso of Ibajay town in Aklan province was shot dead by Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Member Mihrel Senatin on Friday morning, Aug. 8, while two students were seriously wounded in a shooting incident in Nueva Ecija a day earlier.

- TARA YAP and MERLINA HERANDO-MALIPOT

The Ibajay shooting occurred around 9:15 a.m. inside the SB office where the 43-year-old Senatin entered and requested copies of local ordinances he authored.

Senatin approached Estolloso and uttered: “Vice, ano sala ko sa imo? (Vice, what wrong have I done to you?)” before drawing his Glock 17 pistol and shooting the vice mayor six or seven times.

The 50-year-old vice mayor succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds primarily on the left side of his chest. He was taken to the Ibajay District Hospital where he died an hour after being shot.

Senatin fled onboard his motorcycle and went straight home where he was arrested by responding police officers.

The suspect's motive remains unclear as of press time.

Ibajay police chief Major Rajiv Salbino discounted politics as the motive.

"It is hard to say it is politics. They are political allies and they came from the same political party," he said.

"They have no prior grudge. That's why the staff is shocked. Until now, we cannot even talk to them properly." Police are preparing murder charges against Senatin.

Nueva Ecija shooting

The vice mayor was serving his second term while Senatin was on his third term.

In Nueva Ecija, the Department of Education (DepEd) and a teachers' group on Friday, August 8, strongly condemned the shooting incident at Sta. Rosa Integrated School.