Dueñas, Iloilo vice mayor's partner asked to undergo paraffin test – Iloilo police

Police investigating the death of Dueñas, Iloilo Vice Mayor Aimee Paz Lamasan on Thursday requested for a paraffin test for the late official’s live-in partner.

According to the report of GMA Regional TV’s John Sala in “24 Oras,” Lamasan’s live-in partner was the only person with her when she accidentally discharged a firearm.

“We already sent a request for a paraffin test to the vice mayor’s partner. That’s one of the things we have to do,” said Iloilo City Police chief Captain Jeffrey Delgado. 

GMA Regional TV is trying to reach out to the late vice mayor’s live-in partner, who is a former regional director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Eastern Visayas, for comment.

Last Tuesday morning, Lamasan was organizing her things at her residence in La Paz, Iloilo City. She was about to put away a 9 mm pistol when it accidentally went off and hit Lamasan in the stomach.

The local official was rushed to the hospital for treatment but passed away on Wednesday. Lamasan’s family has requested for privacy.

Earlier in the day, Dueñas, Iloilo Mayor Robert Martin Pama announced the vice mayor’s passing in a Facebook post.

“As of now, we are looking at accidental firing as one of the possible angles. But our follow-up is still ongoing, so in case that there is other evidence for another angle, the investigation will still go on,” said Iloilo City Police Office spokesperson Major Shella Sangrines. 

The La Paz police is still waiting for the results of the ballistic examination on the 9 mm pistol. Authorities are also waiting for confirmation from the Regional Civil Security Unit if Lamasan indeed owned the pistol. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/JMA, GMA Integrated News