ILOILO CITY – The killing of Vice Mayor Julio M. Estolloso by Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member Mihrel Senatin in Ibajay town, Aklan province was complete shock as the two are political allies.
ESTOLLOSO (left) and Senatin
Police Major Rajiv Salbino, chief of the Ibajay Municipal Police Station, said that politics is unlikely the motive of Senatin when he shot Estolloso multiple times inside the SB office on Friday, Aug. 8.
“They are political allies. They came from the same political party,” Salbino told Manila Bulletin in a phone interview.
Salbino assured investigators will look into other motives.
The 50-year-old vice mayor and the 43-year-old councilor were reelected last May and ran under the Tibyog Aklan local political slate.
They are townmates and allies of the Miraflores political family led by Gov. Jose Enrique “Joen” Miraflores and his father second district Rep. Florencio “Joeben” Miraflores.
“Vice Julio, palangga ka gid it among pamilya, mga amigo ag amiga, ag mga Ibayjanon (Vice Julio, our family, your friends and the Ibayjanon people love you),” said Gov. Miraflores in a statement.
“A heavy loss to bear for our family and Ibajay. Your friendship and legacy of service will always be cherished,” added Rep. Miraflores in a separate statement.
“I am deeply saddened by his untimely passing. He is a dedicated, committed, and valued vice mayor of our municipality,” echoed Ibajay Mayor Jose Miguel Miraflores, the governor’s brother.
Mayor Miraflores suspended work at the Ibajay Municipal Hall for the rest of the day following the incident.
The Philippine flag has been flown at half-mast in the memory of the slain vice mayor.