DAR employee found dead behind gov’t office

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines—An employee of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Albay was found dead with a pistol recovered near his body at the backyard of his office early Friday morning, police said.

“Engineer Escolastico Morilla Jr. was seen lifeless by one Gregorio Martirez at the back of the DAR office in Barangay Baranghawon in Tabaco City at around 8 a.m.,” said Superintendent Wilson Asueta, Bicol police spokesperson.

Asueta said Morilla was an agrarian reform officer for Tabaco City and the neighboring towns of Tiwi and Malinao in Albay.

He said initial investigation showed Morilla could have shot himself with the 9 mm pistol, which was found by the police beside his body.

Police could not as yet give other details, including the nature of Morilla’s injuries, and were still conducting follow-up investigation.