Gunman kills radio reporter in Philippine south

MANILA, June 25 (Reuters) A gunman shot dead a reporter at a state-owned radio station on the Philippines' southernmost island of Tawi-tawi today as he made his way to work, the regional police chief said.

Joel Goltiao said Vincent Sumalpong of the government-owned Radyo ng Bayan (People's Radio) network had been shot while riding his motorcycle. Two companions were wounded.

''He was killed on the spot from five bullet wounds in the body,'' Goltiao told reporters.

''We're still investigating whether the attack was work-related because the radio station was beset by labour problems.'' Goltiao said police were also looking into reports Sumalpong had ''some personal problems'' and the attack was triggered by an old grudge.

Goltiao said local police had identified the gunman after witnesses were shown pictures of possible suspects.

''We have sent police teams to track down the gunman in two areas on the island,'' he said, adding the man was also a suspect in the murder last month of a woman working in a karaoke bar.

Sumalpong was the third reporter killed in the country this year, according to the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines.

Fifty-two reporters have been killed since January 2001 when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was swept into power after an army-backed popular revolt. The Philippines has been labelled one of the world's most dangerous places for journalists.

Hundreds of leftists and opponents of the government have also disappeared or been killed in what rights group say is a systematic pattern of intimidation.

Two weeks ago, Arroyo promised to end ''this cycle of violence once and for all'', asking security forces and state prosecutors to solve media killings and bring those behind them to justice.

In February, a UN special rapporteur on extra-judicial killings said the Philippine military was responsible for many of the deaths. Right groups say up to 800 people have been killed since Arroyo came to power.

A team of rights experts from the European Union is currently in the country to provide help and technical assistance in investigating and solving the murders.

REUTERS SKB HS1521