Zamboanga City, Philippines  - A judge of a Muslim-law court was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on a southern Philippine island, a police report said Thursday.

Shariah court judge Edimer Gumbahali, 37, was killed by two gunmen Wednesday in Patikul town on Jolo island, 1,000 kilometres south of Manila.

The victim suffered two gunshot wounds from a 45-calibre pistol and was pronounced dead on arrival at a nearby hospital.

Police investigators were still determining the motive behind the attack and the identities of the two suspects. (dpa)