A woman was found dead in a grassy area in Purok 2, Barangay Kudanding, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, on Saturday afternoon, August 8, 2026, prompting an investigation into what authorities believe may have been a killing carried out elsewhere.
The victim was initially reported as unidentified, but relatives later identified her as Jessica Jane Destor, a resident of Barangay Sampao in Isulan. Her relatives also confirmed that she had visible wounds on her face.
The body was discovered at around 4 p.m. by a harvester worker who had reportedly gone to the area to relieve himself. Instead, he was shocked to see a person lying motionless on the grass near a banana tree.
The worker immediately sought assistance after realizing that the woman was no longer alive.
Initial information from the Isulan Municipal Police Station indicated that investigators were looking into the possibility that the victim had been killed in another location before her body was brought to and abandoned in the area of Purok 2, Barangay Kudanding.
The circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear.
Authorities have yet to establish the exact cause of death, the circumstances that led to the fatal injuries, or the identity of those who may have been responsible. The motive behind the suspected killing has also not been determined.
The discovery initially generated uncertainty about the victim’s identity and even her sex, but subsequent information from relatives identified her as Destor.
Police are continuing their investigation and are expected to examine the scene and gather information that could help establish where the victim was killed, how she was transported to Kudanding, and who may have been involved.
The case has also prompted calls for relatives of missing women in the area to coordinate with police and check whether their family members could be connected to the unidentified-body report initially circulated following the discovery.
Authorities are expected to pursue leads from residents and workers in the area, as well as other available evidence, in an effort to identify and arrest the person or persons responsible.
The victim’s family is now seeking answers as investigators work to determine what happened to Destor before her body was found abandoned in Kudanding.
The police investigation remains ongoing.