Ibajay, Aklan councilor faces murder charge after vice mayor death

A Sangguniang Bayan member in Ibajay, Aklan is facing murder charges after he allegedly shot to death the town’s vice mayor on Friday.

Ibajay Mayor Jose Miguel Miraflores said the a Scene of the Crime Operations team recovered nine bullet casings along with the firearm used at the crime scene.

“Malungkot pa rin kami at shocked pa rin ang karamihan sa nangyari noong Biyernes,” Miraflores told Super Radyo dzBB.

(We are still sad, and most of us are still shocked after last Friday’s incident.)

According to Miraflores, the suspect, identified by police as Mihrel Senatin, has a license to own a firearm.

The Ibajay police earlier reported that witnesses said they heard six or more gunshots after the suspect entered the Sangguniang Bayan Office and approached Vice Mayor Julio Estolloso to request a copy of local ordinances passed during his term.

Senatin was arrested in his home and is currently under police custody.

“Sa pahayag naman ng Sangguniang Bayan, pareho lang din naman ang treatment sa kanila. Sa loob ng konseho, may debate naman talaga, pero labas dun, wala namang isyu naman naging personal. Mostly professional naman sila,” Miraflores said.

\According to the Sangguniang Bayan, they were treated equally. Within the council, they engaged in debates, but outside of that, there were no personal issues. They were mostly professional.)

“Nagtataka rin ang ibang Sangguniang Bayan. Nagulat din sila na ganun ang feeling nung suspek kay vice mayor na left out siya,” he added.

(Other members of the Sangguniang Bayan were also surprised that the suspect felt left out by the vice mayor.)

Due to the incident, the Ibajay municipal office will have only one entry and exit point and will conduct inspections upon entry.

“May mga darating ng doktor galing sa probinsiya. Mag-a-assist sa assessment ng mga empleyado sa munisipyo. Marami kasi ang nakakita sa pangyayari. I-a-assess ang mga empleyado kung kamusta sila,” Miraflores said.

(Doctors will come to our area to assess the well-being of the municipal employees. Many have witnessed the incident.) — RF, GMA Integrated News