Councilor faces murder rap, cites ‘bad blood’ in vice mayor slay

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Town Councilor Mihrel Senatin was charged with murder on Saturday, Aug. 9, for the fatal shooting of Ibajay Vice Mayor Julio Estolloso inside the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) office Friday morning.

Ibajay Municipal Police Station chief, Major Rajiv Salvino said Senatin admitted harboring resentment toward Estolloso, claiming the vice mayor treated him differently during official functions.

“Iba ang pakikitungo ni vice sa akin (The vice mayor treats me differently),” Senatin was quoted as saying when asked about his motive.

Salvino said the suspect clarified there was no personal conflict outside work.

“It matches up that he is harboring ill feelings toward the vice mayor,” the police chief said.

On Friday, Senatin entered the SB office and asked a staff member for a copy of all ordinances passed during his term.

He then went to Estolloso, asked what issues he had against him, pulled out a firearm, and shot the official multiple times.

The vice mayor sustained at least nine gunshot wounds to the left side of his chest and his arm.

He was rushed to the Ibajay District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Senatin was later apprehended at his residence.

Salvino said police are also investigating claims that the suspect was suffering from depression.

“We are still conducting validation and investigation in that angle to confirm if there is a record to support the claim that the person is undergoing depression,” Salvino said.

Witnesses said the SB session two days earlier ended amicably, but investigators believe tensions had been building over time from minor disagreements.

“What came out of our investigation is that this started a long time ago and built up slowly. Senatin was then filled with the little things over time, which eventually added up and led to the incident,” Salvino said.

Senatin is now in the custody of the Aklan Provincial Police Office for a paraffin test and ballistic examination on the recovered 9mm Glock 17 pistol, which came with one magazine and eight rounds of ammunition.

Records show he is a licensed gun owner but had no permit to carry the firearm.

Police are studying possible charges for violating firearm regulations.

“We can say that the case is already solved since the suspect is already arrested,” Salvino said.

Ibajay Mayor Jose Miguel M. Miraflores said he is shocked by the incident, noting that all council members were treated equally.

He added that while debates were common within the council, there were no personal issues outside of it.

Miraflores said the municipal hall will implement a one-entry, one-exit policy, increase security presence, and recommend additional police at the SB session hall entrance during meetings.

CCTV cameras will also be installed inside the session hall, as no such system was in place during the shooting.

Doctors will visit the municipal hall Monday to provide a debriefing and check on employees affected by the incident.

“We will check upon that and we hope that we can have a better, safer environment for the future,” he said.

Following the killing, top councilor Nepoy Inocencio will assume the vice mayor post, leaving a vacancy in the SB that officials have yet to fill.

Miraflores said they are asking for assistance from the Department of the Interior and Local Government to guide them in the procedures.

Under the Local Government Code, filling a vacancy in the SB generally requires appointment by the mayor upon the recommendation of the SB members.

If the vacating member was elected under a political party, the appointee usually comes from a nominee of that same political party.