Provincial jail official kidnapped in Davao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Xinhua) - The chief of a provincial jail in the southern Philippines was abducted by gunmen this evening, local police said.

Four armed men approached Jose Mervin Coquilla, the jail chief, near his residence in Sto. Nino village, Panabo City, in Davao del Norte province at around 8 p.m., Samuel Gadingan, the provincial police chief said.

Some gunmen suddenly shoved the provincial jailer into a pickup truck and then sped off to an unknown direction. A team of police commandos have started a pursuit operation, Gadingan told Xinhua.

Authorities have yet to identify the suspects and motive behind the alleged kidnapping.