Actor Playing Masked Gunman Shot Dead

An actor playing a masked gunman in the Philippines has been shot dead after he was mistaken for a real assassin.

Filipino actor Kirk Abella was filming a scene in Cebu for the movie Going Somewhere when village security guard Eddie Cuizon shot and killed him.

The film was being made by British theatre and film director Alan Lyddiard.

Cuizon claims he was woken up by a call from a concerned citizen, saying there was a masked gunman in the area.

Witnesses thought the shot fired was part of the scene, police have said.

As the director shouted "action", actor Kirk Abella began to speed away on a motorcycle with a masked driver and the security guard feared he was going to escape.

He told police he saw two men on a motorcycle and approached them, but they sped away and he stumbled as he tried to stop them, injuring his knee.

Cuizon grabbed Abella by the shirt and shot him.

The 32-year-old actor died in hospital.

Many street killings in the Philippines, including those of political activists and journalists, have been perpetrated by motorcycle-riding gunmen.

Cuizon surrendered to police after he realised what had happened, and is waiting to be charged with homicide and violation of a gun ban.