Police have ruled out foul play in the death of Dueñas, Iloilo Vice Mayor Aimee Paz Lamasan, concluding that she died from an accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound at her residence in Iloilo City, just days before the close of 2025.
The La Paz Police Station said the incident occurred shortly after 7 a.m. on December 30, 2025, inside Lamasan’s home in a subdivision in Barangay Tabuc Suba, La Paz district.
Authorities were alerted around 7:30 a.m. after the vice mayor was rushed to a hospital in City Proper for emergency treatment.
Police Captain Jeffrey Delgado, chief of Police Station 2 of the Iloilo City Police Office, said investigators found that Lamasan was handling and cleaning her firearm when it suddenly discharged, striking her in the right abdomen.
The incident reportedly happened at the dining area of the house.
The account was based on the statement of her live-in partner, who was present at the time.
Two household helpers told police they heard the gunshot but did not witness the actual shooting.
Investigators said the findings were consistent with the statement of Lamasan’s lawyer, who likewise maintained that the incident was purely accidental.
Police noted that the bullet exited through the vice mayor’s leg.
Despite immediate medical intervention, Lamasan succumbed to her injuries hours later, after failing to survive a second surgical procedure, according to her aunt, former vice mayor Pangga Lamasan-Piccio.
Her sudden death sent shockwaves across local government circles.
The Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines (VMLP) – Iloilo Chapter expressed deep shock and grief, describing Lamasan as a dedicated, kind, and dependable public servant.
VMLP-Iloilo Chapter President and Lambunao Vice Mayor Arvin Losaria said Lamasan was a trusted member of the league’s board of directors and was particularly passionate about education initiatives.
Losaria added that while he had previously joined Lamasan in firing range activities, he was unaware of the specific firearm involved in the incident.
The tragedy cast a pall over the New Year for the Lamasan family.
Lamasan-Piccio shared that the vice mayor was even scheduled to lead a gift-giving activity on the day of the incident, underscoring the abruptness of the loss.
Tributes poured in from colleagues and local leaders.
Iloilo Fourth District Representative Ferjenel Biron honored Lamasan as a leader of integrity, compassion, and genuine public service, saying her legacy would continue to inspire the people of Dueñas.
Dueñas Mayor Robert Martin Pama, meanwhile, described Lamasan as his closest partner in governance.
“There are no goodbyes between us,” Pama wrote in a social media post. “You were my constant ally. Rest in peace.”
Vice Mayor Aimee Paz Lamasan’s passing has left the municipality of Dueñas reeling, as constituents and colleagues mourn the sudden loss of a leader remembered for her service, warmth, and an abruptly ended political journey.IMT
