COTABATO CITY — A 31-year-old woman was wounded after she was shot by an unidentified gunman outside the apartment where she was staying in Site 2, Barangay Tamontaka 1, Cotabato City, at around 11:05 a.m. on September 10, 2026.
The victim was identified by the Cotabato City Police Office (CCPO) as Lholeta Mustapha Bakang, a resident of Katibpuan, Talayan, Maguindanao del Sur. Police said Bakang was standing outside the apartment when the unidentified assailant approached her and suddenly opened fire before fleeing the area.
Investigators recovered two spent .45-caliber shell casings at the scene, providing police with initial physical evidence as they work to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Bakang sustained gunshot wounds to her abdomen and the rear portion of her body, according to the initial police report. She was immediately brought to the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center for medical treatment. Her current medical condition was not immediately provided in the information released by authorities.
After the shooting, the gunman reportedly escaped aboard an unidentified vehicle and headed toward the main road. Police have yet to establish the identity of the assailant, the vehicle used in the escape, or whether the gunman acted alone.
The CCPO said one of the angles being considered in the investigation is the possibility that the shooting was connected to a business-related dispute or matter. Police have not, however, established a definitive motive and have not publicly identified any person as responsible for the attack.
Authorities are continuing their investigation, including efforts to identify the suspect and determine the circumstances that led to the shooting. Investigators are also expected to examine available evidence and possible leads that could help establish the assailant’s identity and the motive behind the attack.
The incident comes amid concerns over the safety of individuals involved in business activities, particularly when disputes or unresolved conflicts are being investigated as possible factors in violent incidents. Police have urged anyone with relevant information that could assist the investigation to coordinate with authorities.
For now, the shooting remains under investigation, with the identification and arrest of the gunman among the CCPO’s immediate priorities.