SULTAN KUDARAT, MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE, Philippines — A sense of shock has gripped a local community after a 40-year-old woman was shot and killed in broad daylight near a busy public market in Barangay Bulalo, Sultan Kudarat.

Local police have launched a comprehensive investigation to identify the perpetrator and determine the motive behind the brazen attack.

The incident occurred during a peak shopping hour outside the Barangay Bulalo public market, a heavily frequented commercial hub in the municipality. According to initial eyewitness accounts, the victim was walking near the perimeter of the marketplace when an unidentified gunman approached her from behind.

Without warning, the suspect drew a handgun and fired multiple shots at close range, striking the woman in vital parts of her body. The sudden gunfire sent vendors and market-goers scrambling for cover. The gunman immediately fled the scene on foot before disappearing into the crowd, possibly escaping on a waiting getaway motorcycle nearby.

Law Enforcement Response: First responders and local police units arrived at the scene within minutes of the shooting. Emergency medical personnel confirmed that the 40-year-old victim succumbed to her injuries instantly. The area was immediately cordoned off for forensic processing.

Sultan Kudarat police investigators are currently reviewing available closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from surrounding businesses to track the suspect’s entry and escape routes. Authorities are also interviewing merchants and witnesses who were near the market entrance at the time of the shooting.

The identity of the victim is being withheld by officials pending formal notification of her immediate family.

Local community leaders have condemned the violent act, urging residents who may have witnessed the suspect or noticed suspicious activity prior to the shooting to come forward. Security presence has been temporarily heightened around the public market and surrounding sector to reassure anxious residents while the manhunt continues.