A journalist was killed on Thursday morning in The Philippines, while she was walking to a bus stop near her home in Malabon city, one of the municipalities that make up Metro Manila.

Maria Len Flores-Somera, host of a public service program on DZME, is the second journalist murdered this year in The Philipines and the fifth journalist killed in the country since Benigno Aquino III was proclaimed President-elect on 9 June 2010.

Somera was shot in the back of the head by two unidentified assailants while on her way to work at around at around 9:30 a.m. The gunmen fled in a jeep, threatening to kill anybody who tried to stop them, police Senior Supt. Cornelio Barrios was reported as saying.

Philippines police said they had created a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to solve Somera’s killing, the Philippines Inquirer reported. “We do not condone any violence toward our friends in the media, regardless of the reason,” National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Nicanor Bartolome said.

“We welcome the prompt attempts by Philippines police to identify the motive behind Somera’s murder and bring the perpetrators to justice,” said IPI Director Alison Bethel McKenzie. “Impunity is a plague in The Philippines and unless it is aggressively tackled by authorities at the highest levels, the killers of journalists will feel emboldened to strike again and again.

Somera’s radio talk show dealt with people’s complaints about public services. The journalist, who often expressed criticism of alleged official incompetence and negligence, helped callers get in touch with officials.

Police said they were investigating if her murder was related to her journalistic activity or in connection with a land dispute in connection with the Silenian Homeowners Association, where Somera was president.