Woman shot dead while boarding jeepney in Tondo

MANILA, Philippines—A 41-year-old woman was shot in the head and killed Friday evening as she was about to board a passenger jeepney on her way home in Manila, police said.

Marilyn Esponilla  of Duhat Street in Tondo was declared dead shortly after arrival at the Mary Johnston Hospital.

Senior Police Officer 1 Mario Asilo  of the Manila Police District homicide section  said shooting happened around 6:50 p.m. at the corner of Zamora and Chacon streets in Tondo.

Esponilla had just flagged down a passenger jeepney plying the Divisoria-North Bay Boulevard route and was about to board the vehicle when a man approached her from behind. Without any provocation, the man drew a gun and shot Esponilla in the back of the head and fled.

The woman slumped forward onto floor of the jeepney and was rushed by bystanders to the nearest hospital, Asilo said. She was pronounced dead at 7:47 p.m. with the bullet still lodged in her skull.

Asilo ruled out robbery as a motive for the shooting as the victim’s belongings, a brown shoulder bag containing  assorted silver jewelry, her mobile phone, and identification cards remained intact.

The body was taken to the Cruz funeral parlor.