Zamboanga City, Philippines - A radio journalist was in critical condition in the southern Philippines on Thursday after being shot by suspected soldiers, police said.

Harrison Manalac, 29, was on his way home when he was attacked outside a local radio station in Buug town in Zamboanga Sibugay province, 810 kilometres south of Manila, on Wednesday evening.

Senior Superintendent Federico Castro, provincial police commander, said Manalac suffered a gunshot wound between his left shoulder and nape.

Castro said the attack could have been connected to Manalac's sharp criticism of a public school teacher who has a son in the military.

He noted that police officers reported seeing a group of armed men believed to be government soldiers near the radio station before the shooting.

"One of of the armed men then approached Manalac and shot him once using a 45-calibre pistol," he said.

Castro said investigators were looking into other possible motives for the shooting, noting that Manalac is known for his scathing commentaries against official corruption.

Two journalists have been killed so far this year in the Philippines. Last year, seven journalists were killed. Most of the murders have remained unresolved.(dpa)