A drug offender recently released from prison through a plea bargaining deal was found dead with several bullet wounds in his body in Cortes town on Tuesday morning.

The fatality, identified as Francis Laborte, 38, of Bayacabac, Maribojoc was found by residents as he was sprawled roadside in Barangay Lourdes, Cortes at past 6 a.m., said Lt. Roy Susvilla of the Cortes police.

Laborte’s mouth was wrapped close with a masking tape while a rope was tied around his neck when he was found lifeless with two bullet wounds in his nape and one in his back.

“Gihanyo namo ang tagtungod na ipa-autopsy kay kung didto pa unta siya patya daghan untang volume sa dugo, pero wa may dugo na nakita nato, dili kaayo daghan. So siguro gitiwasan nalang to didto bisa’g patay na,” said Susvilla.

Three spent shells fired from a .45 caliber pistol were found at the crime scene.

According to Susvilla, residents near the area where the body was found heard gunshots at past 11 p.m. on Monday.

A white van was also reportedly spotted in the area close to the time when the body was found. The information however was still being verified by investigators.

“Mura’g dihay van na puti. Pero ato pang tan-awon ning CCTV diri sa duol kung tinuod ba,” he said.

Susvilla noted that they were still continuing their investigation but were already following up on a lead.

“Storya niini. Dihay mi tawag niya kagaabi [Monday] na iyang giadto. So amoang gi-trace karon kung kinsa tong tawhana nanawag kay aron makadayon ta sa atong pag-imbestigar,” said Susvilla.

Laborte was earlier arrested for a drug charge but was released from prison in the third week of March after entering a plea bargaining deal.