Zamboanga City, Philippines - One suspected Islamic militant was killed and three were arrested in a shootout with police in the southern Philippines, the military said Saturday. The fighting erupted in Jolo town on Jolo island, 1,000 kilometres south of Manila, when police accosted a group of armed men they believed had been planning a kidnapping.
"The armed men appeared to have planned snatching Chinese businessmen, but their attempt was foiled," said Major General Juancho Sabban.
"Some police officers became suspicious of the unidentified men and went to check on them," he added. "The armed men traded shots with the approaching policemen."
Sabban said one of the gunmen was killed, while three were arrested after a brief chase. Four managed to flee.
He said the gunmen were believed to be members of the Muslim Abu Sayyaf rebel group, which has been blamed for some of the worst terrorist attacks in the Philippines.
The Abu Sayyaf group has also been blamed for numerous kidnapping-for-ransom cases, including high-profile abductions of foreign tourists in 2000 and 2001.
