Malaysia probes Philippine diplomat's killing

Malaysian police on Saturday investigated the killing of a Philippine diplomat who was apparently bludgeoned to death in his apartment.

Finardo Cabilao, the social welfare attache at the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, was found dead by embassy officials in his home Friday after he failed to show up for work, the Malaysian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry voiced regret over the killing, saying it has told police "to make the investigation a priority and to resolve it as soon as possible." It stressed that Malaysian authorities were constantly trying to watch over diplomats but urged them to maintain measures to safeguard their own safety.

The Star newspaper quoted Kuala Lumpur police criminal investigations chief Ku Chin Wah as saying authorities have ruled out robbery as a motive because Cabilao's cash and valuables had not been taken. He had multiple head and body injuries and was believed to have been beaten with blunt objects by more than one attacker, the report said.