AKLAN — Tragedy shattered the normally quiet Friday morning in the Municipality of Ibajay when Vice Mayor Julio Estolloso was shot dead inside the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Office — allegedly at the hands of his own colleague, SB Member Mihrel Senatin.

According to witnesses, the attack happened around 9:15 a.m., just as the small-town government center was beginning its usual workday. Police reports state that Senatin arrived at the SB Office asking for copies of ordinances passed during his term. Moments later, he allegedly walked up to Estolloso and, in the local dialect, confronted him:

“Vice, anu ang saea kimu?” (“Vice, what wrong have I done to you?”)

Without waiting for a reply, Senatin reportedly pulled out a firearm and fired six to seven shots at close range, hitting the vice mayor in the head and chest.

Chaos erupted as staff and visitors scrambled for safety. Estolloso was rushed to Ibajay District Hospital, but doctors declared him dead on arrival. Police immediately arrested Senatin, who is now under the custody of the Ibajay Municipal Police Station as murder charges are being prepared.

Political allies turned deadly foes

The killing is particularly stunning because Estolloso and Senatin had campaigned together in the May 2025 local elections, running under the same political slate. It was not a regular session day, but reports suggest the vice mayor may have been preparing for a possible meeting when the attack took place.

While authorities have yet to establish the motive, the brazen nature of the shooting — inside a government office, during working hours — has fueled speculation and alarm in the community.

Community in grief

The vice mayor’s death has left a deep wound in Ibajay. His grandson, George, poured his grief into a Facebook post:

“A beautiful life, lived in service to others. Daw d ako kapati! Another life lost in the name of public service. Politics truly is a different kind of beast. JUSTICE for Lolo Vice Mayor Julio Estolloso.”

Chancellor Rev. Fr. Justy F. More also called for prayers, noting that Estolloso was the brother of Fr. Jose Estolloso of the Diocese of Kalibo:

“Let us keep the Estolloso family in our prayers during this most difficult time… Eternal rest grant unto Julio, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.”

Police condemnation

Police Regional Office 6 Regional Director PBGEN Josefino Ligan strongly condemned the killing, calling it “deeply concerning, especially as it involves individuals who serve the public in positions of trust.”

He assured the public that the case would be handled “with utmost professionalism and impartiality” and urged residents to remain calm.

A dangerous backdrop

The incident adds to the long history of political violence in the Philippines, particularly in local government units where rivalries and unresolved disputes can turn deadly.

The brazen attack has renewed calls for stronger measures to protect public officials and to address the deep-seated tensions that often simmer beneath the surface of small-town politics.

For Ibajay, a town of just over 50,000 residents, the murder of its vice mayor is not just a crime — it is a traumatic blow to a community that prides itself on familiarity and close ties.