2 Chinese businessmen abducted in Philippines

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - Philippine security forces alleged that a Muslim rebel commander was behind Monday's abduction of two Chinese businessmen in southern Philippines.

First Infantry Division Spokesman Captain Albert Caber told a local radio station Tuesday that based on their intelligence assessment, the incident was carried out by the group of Waning Abdusalam, a senior leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's Special Operations Group.

"But as of this time, no group has acknowledged responsibility of the incident and there is still no ransom demands from the kidnappers," he said.

Caber said they already formed a Crisis Management Committee to closely monitor the abduction.

Jampong Lin and James Lou, both engaging in mining business in China's Guangdong province, were kidnapped by a group of gunmen on Monday night in Kabasalan, a town of the southern province of Zamboanga Sibugay.

Six gunmen barged into the rented house of the victims and seized them at gunpoint  in the village of F.L Pena.

The suspects dragged them into a white van and fled away.