COTABATO CITY, Maguindanao -- Gunmen seized a physician while she was about to leave a government hospital here Friday night but police rescued the woman shortly afterwards, police said.

Superintendent Willie Dangane, Cotabato police chief, identified the victim as Milagrosa Yap, 50, an obstetrician-gynecologist.

The victim was about to board her Mitsubishi Pajero at about 9 p.m. when three gunmen declared they were kidnapping her. A commotion ensued, causing the hospital security guard to close the hospital compound’s gate.

But the kidnappers, one of whom took over the wheel of the victim’s car, rammed through the gate and sped away to Sinsuat Avenue.

The Pajero collided with at least three other vehicles on the highway before police cornered it on Notre Dame Avenue, Dangane said, adding that one of the three gunmen was killed in the ensuing shootout. The two others escaped.

Police sources said the kidnappers could have been members of the MILF who wanted a doctor to treat wounded comrades. The MILF had no hand in the failed kidnapping, said MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu.