Gunmen abduct 2 children, nanny, driver in Jolo

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine military says gunmen have abducted two children, their nanny and a driver while on the way to school in the restive southern region notorious for ransom kidnappings by Islamic militants.

Marine Capt. Ryan Lacuesta says the driver and nanny were taking a 10-year-old and his 8-year-old cousin to school Monday when about five men with M16 rifles on board a jeep bumped their van and dragged the four away in downtown Jolo town in Sulu province.

Lacuesta says Abu Sayyaf extremists and small kidnap gangs are among the suspects.

Abu Sayyaf militants still hold several captives in their jungle camps in Sulu’s mountainous hinterlands, including two European bird watchers who were kidnapped two years ago.