AN EMPLOYEE of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR) was found dead in the vicinity of Mount Kanlaon Natural Park (MKNP) at Sitio Calapnagan, Barangay Biak na Bato, La Castellana in Negros Occidental Saturday afternoon.
Senior Inspector Jerry Nacion, chief of La Castellana Municipal Police Station, identified the fatality as Angelo Bibar, 49, of Silay City.
Bibar, an ecosystem-management specialist I of Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro)-Bago City, was a former park superintendent of Mt. Kanlaon.
Initial investigation showed that Bibar, who was staying at the MKNP office, left around noon carrying his own firearm as he informed his live-in partner that he will practice firing.
Around 4 p.m., a utility personnel of MKNP found him dead with a gunshot wound in his head, it added.
Police investigators recovered a 9mm caliber near his body.
Nacion said Bibar and his partner as well as the two utility personnel were subjected to a paraffin test.
Investigation is ongoing.
Bibar, a biologist, was known in the mountaineering circles for his involvement in the MKNP operations.
His colleagues and friends as well mountaineers have been posting messages of condolences in his Facebook account since Saturday.