JOLO, Sulu, Philippines—Police killed a suspected kidnapper and arrested three others during a fire fight near the Jolo Fire Station on Barrio Militar Road around 6:20 p.m. Friday.

Mayor Hussin Amin said another suspect managed to elude arrest during the shooting.

Amin said some police officers saw five suspicious-looking persons arrive near the Jolo Rural Health Center, beside the fire station, aboard a red Tamaraw vehicle with dilapidated plates past 5 p.m.

"The Jolo Police was alerted by operatives who monitored the movement of the suspects," he said.

Amin said after about 30 minutes, policemen on foot slowly approached the vehicle.
"One of the suspects sensed that policemen were approaching from both directions and immediately alighted from the vehicle and fired his gun," Amin said.

He said an exchange of fire ensued, which resulted in the death of the still unidentified suspect.

"Three others were caught as they scampered but the other one managed to escape by jumping off a wall," he said.

Amin said the three arrested suspects, who also yielded weapons, were being interrogated.

Asked what the men were up to, Amin said they could have planned to snatch some local Chinese businessmen.

He said Chinese businessmen usually pass by the road, where the suspected kidnappers had themselves, after closing their shops.