Philippine military officials say suspected Muslim militants have abducted six sawmill workers in a southern region where a recent military offensive killed at least 24 militants.
Army Col Nilo Samarita said the workers were seized by the militants on Monday in a far-flung village in Butig town in the predominantly Muslim province of Lanao del Sur and that the police and military were taking steps to secure their freedom. Samarita said on Tuesday it was not immediately clear what the motive was for the abduction of the Christian workers. The largely unknown Maute group of militants had attacked an army outpost in Butig town in February.