Murder in the Municipal Hall! Philippine Vice Mayor Slain by Councilor With Glock 17

Ibajay, Aklan, Philippines – A local vice mayor in the central Philippines was shot and killed Tuesday morning inside a government office by a fellow municipal council member, according to local police reports.

Vice Mayor Julio Estolloso of Ibajay, a municipality in the province of Aklan, was gunned down inside his office at the Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council) building.

Authorities say the suspect, identified as councilor Mihrel Senatin, entered Estolloso’s office around 9:00 a.m., requested a copy of local ordinances, and then suddenly confronted the vice mayor.

“Vice, what did I ever do to you?” Senatin allegedly asked before opening fire, according to a statement from Police Major Rajiv Salbino, chief of the Ibajay police. Estolloso was shot six times in the forehead and chest with a Glock 17 pistol.

The 62-year-old vice mayor was rushed to the Ibajay District Hospital but was pronounced dead at 10:23 a.m.

Police later arrested Senatin at his residence. The firearm used in the attack was recovered and is now undergoing ballistic examination as part of the investigation.

Authorities are still determining the motive, but early indications suggest the killing was not politically motivated. Both men were allies under the Tibyog Aklan local political group and had campaigned together during the May 2025 national and local elections.

The killing has shocked residents of the town, located on the northwestern coast of Panay Island, a popular tourist area known for its beaches and cultural heritage.

The Philippine National Police has not yet confirmed whether the suspect will face murder charges but said the case is being treated as a criminal act of violence.