ZAMBOANGA CITY – (UPDATE) The Abu Sayyaf might be behind the kidnapping of an Irish missionary in Pagadian City on Sunday evening, a police official said Monday.

Chief Superintendent Angel Sunglao, Western Mindanao police chief, said only the bandit group has the capability to pull off such a daring act.

Father Michael Sinot was snatched inside the Columban House in Gatas District in Pagadian City by six armed men around 7:20 p.m. Sunday.

Sunglao said at least six suspects forcibly entered the Columban House and took Sinot at gunpoint.

The suspects then fled with the priest on board a mini van with license plate GBL 687, he said.

Sunglao said the mini van was burned by the suspect when they reached Sta. Lucia village and took a boat with the victim.

Sunglao said a fisherman later told police that he saw the gunmen and the priest heading towards Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur.

The Abu Sayyaf kidnapped Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi, also near Pagadian, in 2007 and held him for over a month before freeing him, allegedly after the payment of ransom.

In 2001 and 1998, the same group kidnapped priests Giuseppe Pierantoni and Luciano Benedetti. They were freed after alleged payment of ransoms, the military had claimed, although this was denied by the victims.

Meanwhile in January this year, the Abu Sayyaf also kidnapped three aid workers from the International Committee of the Red Cross on the southern island of Jolo.

The Philippine woman, an Italian, and a Swiss aid worker were released individually unharmed after a hostage crisis that stretched six months.

The military has since unleashed huge offensives against the Abu Sayyaf on Jolo in recent months, leading to the capture of a major rebel camp and many casualties on both sides.