A 23-year-old saleslady was stabbed dead by a still unidentified suspect during an apparent rape attempt against the victim in Tondo, Manila before dawn Wednesday.

Police Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo, head of the Manila Police District (MPD) – Homicide Section, identified the fatality, who was declared dead on arrival at Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center due to multiple stab wounds in her body, as Rowella Opoco, 23, a saleslady and temporarily residing at 1076 Batangas Street, Tondo, Manila.

Homicide investigators are now conducting follow-up operations to unmasked the suspect's identity, who was said to have immediately fled from the incident.

Based on report of Senior Police Officer 2 Edmundo Cabal of the MPD – Homicide Section, the stabbing incident happened inside the victim’s rented room at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.