General Santos City, Philippines - A 38-year-old Filipino broadcast journalist died Saturday after being in a coma for five days following his shooting in the southern Philippines.

Colleagues and family members said Dennis Cuesta, a radio commentator, died at the intensive care unit of a private hospital in General Santos city, 1,065 kilometres south of Manila.

Cuesta was shot five days ago while on his way to a mall in General Santos. He suffered three gunshot wounds, including one to the head. His companion was unhurt.

He was the fourth journalist to be killed in the Philippines this year.

While doctors were able to remove the bullet from his head, Cuesta slipped into a coma. Despite optimism by his doctors that he would recover, he expired Saturday afternoon.

"His heartbeat started to slow down before it totally stopped," said Bong Gonzales, a colleague.

Prior to the fatal shooting, Cuesta had asked for police protection because he received death threats and noticed that suspicious men were trailing him.

Cuesta also applied for a firearms' license and permit to carry.

Police are investigating the possibility that the attack was a result of Cuesta's involvement in a controversial land case against an influential businessman in General Santos City.

Last year, four journalists were murdered, while 13 were slain in 2006. Most of the previous killings and attacks against journalists in the Philippines have remained unresolved. (dpa)