January 2, 2026 - Police in Iloilo have requested a paraffin test on the live-in partner of Dueñas Vice Mayor Aimee Paz Lamasan, who died after an alleged accidental firearm discharge at her residence in La Paz, Iloilo City.

Iloilo City Police Chief Captain Jeffrey Delgado confirmed that investigators sent a request for the test as part of standard procedure. “We already sent a request for a paraffin test to the vice mayor’s partner. That’s one of the things we have to do,” Delgado said.

Initial findings showed that Lamasan was organizing her belongings on the morning of December 30 when she attempted to put away a 9mm pistol. The firearm reportedly went off, hitting her in the stomach. She was rushed to the hospital but passed away the following day.

Authorities noted that Lamasan’s partner, a former regional director of the Office of Civil Defense in Eastern Visayas, was the only person with her at the time of the incident. Police said the paraffin test is necessary to determine whether he had discharged a firearm, though they stressed that the investigation remains ongoing and no conclusions have been drawn.

The death of Vice Mayor Lamasan has shocked her family and constituents. Her aunt, former Dueñas vice mayor Merloi Lamasan Piccio, said, “Masakit sa aming pamilya dahil ngayon New Year pa, tahimik muna kami, parang silent lang ang family namin ngayon.” (“It is painful for our family, especially during New Year. We are keeping quiet for now, our family is silent.”).

Mayor Robert Martin Pama also expressed grief, describing Lamasan as “like a sister” to him, while Iloilo 4th District Representative Ferjenel Biron extended condolences, saying, “Rest in peace, Vice Mayor Aimee. A life devoted to the service of others will never be forgotten.”

The investigation continues as police await the results of the paraffin test and other forensic examinations to establish the circumstances of the fatal incident.

Accidents, Firearms, and the Burden of Proof

The death of Vice Mayor Aimee Paz Lamasan is tragic, and the grief of her family deserves respect. But public office brings a public responsibility, even in death. When a fatal shooting is labeled an “accident,” especially involving a firearm inside a private residence, questions are inevitable and legitimate.

Requesting a paraffin test is not an accusation. It is the bare minimum. In cases involving guns, proximity, and loss of life, procedure matters more than reassurance. Every step must be visible, thorough, and free from special treatment. Anything less invites doubt and speculation that no family, and no community, deserves.

Firearms do not discharge themselves. That uncomfortable fact is why investigations must rely on evidence, not assumptions or reputations. The presence of a single witness heightens, not lessens, the need for forensic clarity.

This is not about assigning blame prematurely. It is about protecting truth through process. In a country where gun-related deaths are often dismissed as accidents, transparency is the only safeguard against injustice, whether intentional or not.

Public trust depends on equal treatment under the law. The outcome must be guided by facts, not silence, sympathy, or position. Grief and accountability can coexist. In cases like this, they must.

Image from Aimee Paz Lamasan