(CNN)Gunmen
have kidnapped four people, including two Canadians and a Norwegian,
from a resort in the southern Philippines, state media reported.
The
abductions took place Monday evening at the Oceanview Resort on Samal
Island, which lies off the coast of the major southern island of
Mindanao, according to the official Philippines News Agency.
As well as the three foreigners, a Filipina was kidnapped by the armed group, it said.
The
southern Philippines has been plagued by unrest involving Islamist
militants in recent years, including the taking of foreign hostages.
Lt.
Gen. Aurelio Baladad, a senior Philippine military official in the
region, told the news agency the identities of the kidnappers were still
unknown. He said authorities so far had no indications Abu Sayyaf, one
of the most violent terrorist groups in the region, was involved.
The
Canadian government said in a statement it is "aware of reports that
Canadian citizens were kidnapped in the Philippines" and is "pursuing
all appropriate channels to seek further information."
Baladad
said the Philippine National Police is leading the pursuit of the
abductors, but the military has contributed helicopters and naval
vessels to the hunt.
The
official news agency reported that the three foreigners who were
kidnapped are male. The Norwegian is the manager of the resort, it said.
