An Australian imprisoned in the central Philippines province of Cebu has been found dead inside his cell, in what Philippines authorities believe could be a case of suicide.

Hilton Reece Munro, 46, was found dead in his isolation cell in the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Centre on Saturday.

Munro, a former hockey player and private school teacher from Melbourne, had been charged in Philippines courts with human trafficking, and with violating a law that protects children.

He was arrested in a resort in the central Philippines province of Cebu in 2013 while in the company of four minors, believed to be boys aged between 10 and 13.

Prison officials said the Australian had been suffering from depression while in jail.

Local media reports said Munro had been placed in an isolation cell last year after allegedly "flaring up" at other inmates.

Philippines police have coordinated with the Australian Embassy in Manila for the repatriation of Munro's body.

Munro had taught at Melbourne boys school Scotch College in 1999 and 2000.

He had been head of Zhuhai International School in China's Guangdong province until shortly before his arrest in the Philippines.

Munro was one of a number of Australian men arrested in the Philippines on child sex-related charges.

The Australian Federal Police said about 250 Australians with child sex convictions travelled to the Philippines last year.

In March, Philippines authorities filed charges of murder and rape against Australian Peter Gerard Scully.

Scully was arrested in the southern Philippines city of Malaybalay in February, and is accused of murdering an 11-year-old girl.

He was also charged with trafficking, cybercrime and child abuse.