American found dead in Batangas City

MANILA, Philippines—An American national was found dead inside his home in Batangas City Tuesday evening in an apparent suicide, police said.

Gabriel Joseph Elliott, 41, of New York, was found dead with a gunshot wound to his temple inside an apartment along Vergara Street, in Barangay 12, Batangas City at 7:15 p.m., Senior Inspector Liezel Dimaandal of the Scene of the Crime Operative said Wednesday.

Initial investigation showed that one Mariel Dinglasan was at the apartment when Elliot shot himself with a caliber .38 revolver, Dimaandal said.

There were, however, no information on the witness’ relation to the victim and her statement to the police.

Recovered from the crime scene were Smith and Wesscon caliber .38 revolvers with five live ammunition and one fired cartridge on its chamber; curriculum vitae of the victim; and a P20 bill, she said.

Dimaandal said that the American was actually residing at Regent Pearl Subdivision, Alijis in Bacolod City. It was not clear why he was in Batangas City.

Elliot’s body now lies at the Filipinas Funeral Parlor in Batangas City, she said.

If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please reach out to the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH). Their crisis hotlines are available at 1553 (Luzon-wide landline toll-free), 0917-899-USAP (8727), 0966-351-4518, and 0908-639-2672. For more information, visit their website: (https://doh.gov.ph/NCMH-Crisis-Hotline)

Alternatively, you can contact Hopeline PH at the following numbers: 0917-5584673, 0918-8734673, 88044673. Additional resources are available at ngf-mindstrong.org, or connect with them on Facebook at Hopeline PH.