COTABATO (Philippines), Jan 22: A Muslim activist and part-time radio broadcaster has been ambushed and killed by gunmen in the southern Philippines, police said on Thursday.

Badroddin Abbas, who hosted a talk-back radio programme on DXCM radio, was killed instantly when he was shot in the head after two suspects waylaid his vehicle in Cotabato city, police said.

Abbas, 38, was also a member of the Bangsamoro Civil Society Consortium which fights for Muslims’ rights.

“The motive could be personal or it could have something to do with his work as a radio announcer,” said city police chief Senior Superintendent Willie Dangane.

Abbas was the 63rd journalist killed since President Glo-

ria Arroyo came to power in 2001, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.

The Paris-based Reporters Without Borders and the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists have labelled the Philippines as the second most dangerous country for members of the press, next to Iraq.—AFP