Police in Aklan believe a 48-year-old man fatally shot his 41-year-old live-in partner before turning the gun on himself inside a parked car in Brgy. Panilongan, Buruanga.
Both individuals, found with gunshot wounds to the chest, were declared dead at the scene, according to Buruanga Police Chief, P/Capt. Larry John Vidal.
The victims were identified as Leda Candelario Cenon, an MLGOO officer, and Richan Bartolome, an administrative aide, both employed by the local government of Buruanga.
The couple had been together for nearly five years and shared a five-year-old son.
Initial investigations revealed that Cenon had dropped off their son at Bartolome’s family’s residence earlier that morning.
While returning to her vehicle around 8:00 a.m., an argument reportedly broke out between the two, allegedly leading Bartolome to draw a gun and fatally shoot Cenon as she sat in the driver’s seat.
After shooting Cenon, Bartolome is believed to have turned the gun on himself.
The couple was discovered lifeless inside the vehicle around 5:00 p.m., with police recovering a .38-caliber revolver loaded with four bullets and two spent shells.
Police noted that the vehicle showed no gunshot entry or exit points.
According to relatives, the couple had ongoing disputes, and Cenon had reportedly expressed a desire to separate, which Bartolome opposed.
Police suspect the incident was premeditated, as Bartolome had written a document detailing the division of their assets and care arrangements for their son.
The investigation remains ongoing to uncover further details behind the dispute leading to the incident.