Mayor’s son probed for girlfriend’s slay

ILOILO CITY, Philippines – The policeman-son of a municipal mayor of Iloilo figured in another shooting that resulted in the death of his girlfriend Saturday in Sara town.

Senior Police Officer 1 Nerio Salcedo III, son of Sara Mayor Neptali Salcedo, was being investigated for the killing of Aiko Sandoval, 23.

Sandoval died after a bullet ripped through her face and went through her right shoulder.

Senior Inspector Gilbert Archide, Sara police chief, said Salcedo reported the incident as an accidental firing. Investigators have yet to rule whether there was foul play in the incident.

In September last year, Salcedo was reported to have shot and wounded a mentally deranged man in front of a church in the town.

Salcedo said Sandoval was about to take a bath at their home in Barangay Poblacion Ilawod, when a gun went off. He said the gun, a Glock 19 pistol, fell when she pulled the towel.

The police officer said he rushed the victim to the Sara District Hospital, but she was declared dead on arrival.

Provincial director Senior Superintendent Cornelio Salinas expressed doubt on Salcedo’s statement, saying the crime scene had been tampered with by the time investigators arrived.

Salcedo agreed to undergo a paraffin test but added that he had shot a dog the night before the incident, Archide said.