Eighth Filipino radio journalist killed

Manila: A radio commentator was shot dead as he was leaving work, becoming the eighth journalist killed in the Philippines this year, police said on Wednesday.

Leo Mila, 38, of Radio Natin in San Roque township in Northern Samar province, was heading to the gate of the station's compound on his motorcycle when shots rang out late on Tuesday, police and colleagues said.

Authorities found his bullet-riddled body sprawled in a grassy area near the toppled motorbike, said police investigator Amer Lagrimas.

Police have no immediate suspects and no witnesses have come forward, he said.

Station manager Alice Cagro said Mila recently discussed alleged anomalies involving money collected from students' parents in a local school.

He said Mila's early morning programme was devoted to public service, mainly discussing citizen complaints sent by text message. He also wrote reports for various tabloids in his province and recently published a local magazine, An Peryodista.

Cagro is survived by his wife, 10-year-old daughter and seven-year-old son.

Frequent attacks

Attacks on reporters exposing graft and wrongdoing are frequent in the Philippines, especially in far-flung provinces. At least seven others were killed this year, including another Radio Natin commentator, Arecio Padrigao, who was fatally shot on November 17.