Security tightened at Aklan town hall
ILOILO CITY—Security has been tightened at the municipal government compound of Ibajay in Aklan in the wake of the killing of the town’s vice mayor by one of its councilors.
This developed as the culprit, Councilor Mihrel Senatin, 43, has been charged with murder for the death of Vice Mayor Julio Estolloso, 50, who was shot several times while inside the latter’s office at the town’s Sangguniang Bayan (SB) building on Friday morning.
According to Police Maj. Rajiv Salbino, Ibajay’s police chief, Senatin has a license for the gun he used in shooting Estolloso, but he has no permit to carry it outside his home.
Personal grudge was likely the motive for the incident that continued to traumatize town employees and residents, Salbino said.
Mayor Jose Miguel “Joem” Miraflores ordered the imposition of the “one entry, one exit” policy at the municipal hall, as security in the local government compound would continue to be strict.
The mayor said he had also ordered that mental health experts would be called to conduct a stress debriefing session with the municipal employees still grappling with the incident.
Miraflores said he remained in shock and saddened by the incident since both officials were his political allies.
Commission on Elections records showed that while Estolloso ran under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and Senatin under Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats last May, they both were allies under a local party, Tibyog Aklan.
The remains of Estolloso were now lying in wake at his residence in the neighboring town of Banga.
According to Salbino, Senatin admitted to harboring resentment against the vice mayor because of the treatment he received from the latter.
“Iba ang pakikitungo ni Vice sa akin (He treated me differently),” Salbino quoted Senatin as saying but did not elaborate.
The police officer said that based on the statement of the other council members, their regular sessions were smooth and they all treated each other professionally, and it was normal to have debates regarding ordinances being passed in sessions.
Salbino said that while it was clear that Senatin held a grudge against the vice mayor, they still could not figure out the root cause of the dispute.
One of the things being considered by the police was that Senatin might have been depressed before committing the crime.
Senatin went through a paraffin test on Saturday and a ballistic examination has been conducted on the Glock 17 pistol that he used to shoot the vice mayor.
Police investigation revealed that Senatin’s burst of anger was triggered by the delay in giving him copies of resolutions and municipal ordinances he had previously authored. Senatin is currently serving his third term.
In the wake of the incident, Salbino said the police would also enhance police visibility at the SB building during the council’s session every Thursday.
