Shallow grave found

CAMARINES NORTE—The decomposing body of a man reported missing for almost a month was dug up last week in a pineapple plantation in Barangay Malangcao-Basud in Labo, Camarines Norte, police said.

Supt. Efren Tublan, Labo chief of police, said policemen and soldiers retrieved the body of Armando Espina, 36, in Sitio Tabon around 9 a.m.

Earlier, former barangay official Rodolfo Terrenal discovered what looked like a mound covered by coconut leaves in the pineapple plantation owned by a Rosauro Belmonte.

Tublan said Nelson Bang, Espina’s brother-in-law, became curious enough to dig up what turned out to be a shallow grave.

Bang and Terrenal reported their discovery to the police who helped bring Espina’s body to a funeral parlor.

Espina, who was jobless and single, was last seen on Feb. 25 with three companions. Police, however, have yet to find Espina’s three pals. Jonas Cabiles Soltes, Inquirer Southern Luzon