DAVAO CITY | Jealousy and a domestic dispute are among the possible motives being investigated by the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) in the shooting of two women in Barangay Ubalde, Davao City, on the evening of July 5.
The victims were identified only by their aliases, “Jem,” 48, and her sister-in-law, “Rove,” 36, both residents of Barangay Ubalde.
According to the initial police investigation, the two women were arranging their fruit stall along Orchids Street when a man riding a dark blue Yamaha NMAX motorcycle stopped in front of them and opened fire multiple times before fleeing the scene.
DCPO spokesperson Police Major Maria Teresita Gaspan said investigators learned that “Jem” and the suspect, identified only by the alias “Muslim,” who were reportedly live-in partners, had a heated argument before the shooting.
Police believe the dispute may have escalated after “Jem” allegedly damaged her partner’s motorcycle out of jealousy, which investigators are considering as a possible trigger for the attack.
Authorities said the incident appears to be an isolated case and may involve violations under Republic Act No. 9262, or the Violence Against Women and Their Children (VAWC) Act.
Meanwhile, both victims remain under treatment and medical observation at Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds to different parts of their bodies.
Police have launched a follow-up investigation and hot pursuit operation to locate and arrest the suspect and determine the full circumstances surrounding the shooting.