MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE 2) Malacañang on Tuesday appealed to the media for "caution and restraint" in reporting the kidnapping of ABS-CBN broadcaster Ces Drilon and her crew in Sulu province to ensure their safety while rescue efforts are ongoing.

"We hope for her safety and that of her crew. Likewise we appeal for caution and restraint in media reportage so as not to unduly hamper efforts to rescue them," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.

In a separate statement, Deputy Palace Spokesman Anthony Golez said Malacañang is condemning the kidnapping and assured that the Philippine National Police is doing all it can to run after the perpetrators and "bring the victims home alive and well."

Golez also said the Armed Forces of the Philippines has been directed to share intelligence information with the police, which would lead to the capture of the group believed to be that of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf Group.

Golez also urged the people to cooperate with authorities and report information that would lead to the solution of the crime.

"This must not go unpunished," he added.

Media organizations here and abroad were also quick to condemn the journalists? kidnapping and urge authorities to work for their safe release.

?We are deeply concerned for the safety of these three journalists,? Bob Dietz, Asia coordinator of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said.

?It is great cause for concern that this volatile southern region of the Philippines remains insecure for the press, and we call on local authorities to work diligently to secure their safe and swift release,? he added.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), on the other hand, urged the kidnappers to ?release Ces, Jimmy, Angelo? and peace advocate Octavio Dimampo, who acted as their guide, saying, ?Seizing them cannot in any way serve your ends and can only bring down condemnation on your heads.

?Whatever the abductors stand for, whatever their goals are, there is absolutely no justification for seizing journalists whose sole concern is to seek out the truth and present this as accurately as possible,? the NUJP said in a statement from chairman Jose Torres Jr. and secretary general Rowena Paraan.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), of which the NUJP is an affiliate, echoed the local organization?s call that ?media owners must ensure that adequate preparations and safety measures are provided for all journalists and media workers who report from especially dangerous regions in the Philippines.?

?The fears held for the ABS-CBN crew are a stark reminder that journalism in the Philippines has not ceased to be an incredibly dangerous profession and we honor those journalists who work for press freedom under such difficult circumstances,? it said.

Drilon and two of her crew, Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama, were abducted Sunday morning while pursuing a story in the southernmost province Sulu by armed men believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf Group, police officials said.

The TV news team flew to Mindanao on Saturday on the invitation of Mindanao State University Professor Octavio Dinampo "to cover a special event."

Drilon was to interview the Abu Sayyaf, Philippine National Police Director General Avelino Razon told INQUIRER.net in a separate interview.

After Dinampo picked up the news team Sunday morning, armed men intercepted them as their vehicle passed through Kulasi village, Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao, police regional director for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said.

ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. said in a statement that the three were "missing in Sulu" and that "all efforts are underway to find them and bring them home."

While calling on ?authorities to exert all efforts to ensure the safe return of the journalists and their host,? the NUJP also urged ?sobriety among our colleagues in the media in reporting about the incident so as not to aggravate the situation and endanger Drilon and her companions.?

At the same time, the organization called on media owners to ?soberly assess the situation and take steps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues oftentimes caught in the line of fire just to get the news out.?

It noted that ?too many journalists are sent into dangerous coverage situations without adequate preparations and safety measures? and ?many silently bear the scars and traumas of their coverage, with hardly any support from those who profit from their toil.?

Campus journalists also aired their concern over the abductions. "We are greatly concerned with this news and pray for the wellbeing of our fellow journalists. We also appeal to authorities to do everything in their means to ensure their safety," Vijae Alquisola, president of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines, said.

The civil society group Black and White Movement said ?nothing positive can be gained? from the abductions.

?The taking of hostages further endangers the deteriorating peace situation in Mindanao and hinders the progress toward harmony,? it said.