MANILA, Philippines -- Vice President Noli de Castro found himself in hot water Wednesday when he jokingly ordered his bodyguards to kill a reporter for asking controversial questions.

Tabloid reporter Jeffrey Tiangco said he was appalled by De Castro's reaction when he asked whether the vice president was ready to succeed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is embroiled in a corruption scandal.

De Castro turned to his bodyguards and said: "Can you kill this guy?"

When Tiangco later asked De Castro about the remark, the vice president answered: "I was just kidding you."

The off-color joke came amid international criticism over hundreds of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines of leftist dissidents, journalists and street children suspected of engaging in petty crimes.

De Castro, formerly a leading broadcaster, has come into the spotlight in recent days following allegations by a mid-level official that Arroyo's husband and a key ally are involved in a corruption scandal.

This has revived popular calls for Arroyo's resignation, raising the prospect that de Castro may succeed her.

De Castro has said that he and Arroyo should be allowed to finish their terms in 2010.