Manila, Nov 30 (IANS): A Filipino radio journalist was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen Friday night, Philippines police said Saturday.

Joas Dignos, a commentator for dxGT Radyo Abante, was killed by gunmen riding a motorcycle along the national road in Valencia, a city in Mindanao's Bukidnon province, said Bukidnon provincial police chief Glenn Dela Torre.

According to the police official, the victim was standing near an establishment along the Sayre highway when two gunmen on a motorcycle stopped and one of them shot him several times, killing him instantly, reports Xinhua.

The assailants then fled in an unknown direction.

The Philippines' National Union of Journalists said while authorities have yet to determine the motive behind the killing, "Dignos would be the 19th case of work-related media killing under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III."

Dela Torre said Dignos had been receiving threats in the past due to his alleged stinging commentaries against influential personalities.

The Philippines has been tagged as one of the worst places for journalists in the world as close to 200 media workers have been murdered since the restoration of democracy in 1986.

At least 32 journalists were among the 58 people killed in a massacre by gunmen in Mindanao's Maguindanao province Nov 23, 2009.