Cotabato City, Philippines - Kidnappers in the southern Philippines freed a Filipino-Chinese businessman and his 10-year-old daughter after ransom was allegedly paid, officials said Monday.

Wilson Tan, 50, and his daughter Jennifer were released by their captors in Talayan town in Maguindanao province, 930 kilometres south of Manila, on Sunday evening.

They were kidnapped just outside their house in nearby Cotabato City on February 19.

Army Colonel Domingo Gubway said that based on unconfirmed reports, the family paid ransom for the release of the hostages.

"There maybe ransom money involved, but we have no idea as to the amount," he said.

Manila - A radio broadcaster was killed Monday by unidentified gunmen in a southern Philippine city, the second journalist to be killed this year, a police report said.

Ernie Rollin was on his way to work when gunmen shot him in the village of Talic in Oroquieta City, 765 kilometres south of Manila, the report said.

The victim was parking his motorcycle at the gasoline station before taking a bus ride to his work when two motorcycle-riding gunmen approached and fired at him. He died on the spot.

Rollin, in his mid-40s, was known for hard-hitting commentaries against graft and corruption in the southern region of Mindanao.

Manila  - One government soldier and two communist rebels were killed Sunday in separate incidents in the southern Philippines, the military said.

An army sergeant was killed when a military truck hit a rebel landmine in Panabo City in Davao del Norte province, 990 kilometres south of Manila.

Major General Raymundo Ferrer, a regional military commander, said three soldiers were also wounded in the blast.

He said the troops were on their way to Paquibato district in Davao City to conduct preparations for a humanitarian mission.

Manila  - Two communist rebels were killed Sunday in a clash with government troops in a southern Philippine province, an army spokesman said.

Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner said the combat occurred in a village in Talaingod town in Davao del Norte province, 990 kilometres south of Manila.

Brawner said the military suffered no casualties.

Troops recovered three rifles and the bodies of the slain rebels after the firefight, he said.

Manila  - A fugitive, wanted for allegedly raping his housemaid more than a year ago, was arrested in an eastern city while placing a bet in the Philippines biggest lottery jackpot ever, a police report said Saturday.

The report said Ariel Ayque, 52, was arrested late Friday while placing his bet in a lottery outlet in Naga City, 200 kilometres south-east of Manila.

Ayque was accused of raping his housemaid in November 2007 and a local judge issued a warrant for his arrest in March 2008, it said.

Manila  - For the past three weeks, Filipinos from all walks of life and ages nationwide have been dreaming of the same thing: winning the biggest prize ever in Philippine lottery.

The Superlotto jackpot was estimated to reach a staggering 320 million pesos (6.6 million dollars) by Sunday after several winner-less draws since last month, according to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PSCO).