The body of Palacios, a police reporter for the government-run DZRB Radyo ng Bayan, was found by the side of a road in Nueva Ecija, about 125 miles (200 kilometers) north of Manila, early in the morning, according to local news reports.
Investigators said Palacios had been shot elsewhere and that his assailants had dumped his body, news reports said. They said the journalist, whose body was severely bruised, had been shot in the face and had a broken jaw. Police also said his cell phone had been taken, but that some cash remained in a coin purse he was carrying, the reports said.
Palacios' colleagues told CPJ that he was a strong investigative reporter, and the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility said he had reported on corruption before his death. Rowena Paraan, secretary-general of the National Union of Journalists, told local reporters that she did not know if Palacios had been threatened.
After Palacio's death, police formed a special task force, "Task Force Palacios," to investigate the murder. No arrests have been made.