KIDAPAWAN CITY, Cotabato Province — A 74-year-old businesswoman was shot dead inside her own store in broad daylight on Tuesday, June 16, in a brazen attack that has shocked residents and raised concerns over the apparent use of a silenced firearm by the assailant.
The victim was identified by the Kidapawan City Police Station as Consolacion Muñez Badic, a senior citizen, entrepreneur, and resident of Kidapawan City.
The fatal shooting occurred at around 1:00 p.m. inside her store located along Quezon Boulevard in Barangay Poblacion, directly across from the Our Lady Mediatrix of All Grace Cathedral.
According to the initial police investigation, a lone male suspect entered the establishment posing as a customer. Witnesses said Badic even invited the man to sit down before the attack unfolded.
Moments later, the suspect allegedly drew a firearm and shot the elderly businesswoman at close range.
Bystanders reported hearing approximately three gunshots, with the victim sustaining gunshot wounds to the chest. She died instantly at the scene.
One of the most striking details in the investigation is the absence of loud gunfire that would normally accompany such an attack. Nearby residents and neighboring establishments reportedly did not immediately recognize that a shooting had occurred.
Because of this, investigators are looking into the possibility that the gunman used a firearm fitted with a suppressor or silencer.
“The lack of audible gunshots is one of the factors being examined by investigators,” authorities said as they continued to piece together the circumstances surrounding the killing.
Kidapawan City Police Chief PLTCOL Argie Celeste personally proceeded to the crime scene to oversee the investigation and gather information that could lead to the identification and arrest of the perpetrator.
Investigators have yet to establish a definitive motive behind the attack.
However, initial findings suggest that robbery may not have been the primary objective. According to reports, the victim’s wallet containing cash and her mobile phones were left untouched by the suspect.
The only item reportedly taken was a gold necklace valued at approximately ₱50,000.
Authorities are now examining whether the theft of the necklace was the actual motive or merely an attempt to disguise the crime as a robbery.
Complicating the investigation is the reported lack of operational surveillance cameras in the vicinity of the crime scene.
According to relatives of the victim, all nearby CCTV cameras that could have potentially captured the suspect’s movements were non-functional at the time of the shooting. They said at least three surveillance cameras in the area had been out of service for several years, depriving investigators of crucial footage that could have aided the case.
The Philippine National Police has launched a hot pursuit operation to track down the gunman, whose identity remains unknown.
Authorities are appealing to witnesses and members of the public who may have seen suspicious individuals or activities in the area before or after the shooting to come forward and assist the investigation.
The killing of Badic, a well-known senior citizen and businesswoman in the city, has left the local community mourning and demanding swift justice as police intensify efforts to uncover the motive behind the deadly attack and bring those responsible before the law.