Philippine security forces rescued a Filipino-Chinese trader kidnapped by suspected Muslim militants an hour after the kidnapping in southern Philippines late Monday, a Philippine police officer said on Tuesday.

The hostage, Tomas To, who was kidnapped by gunmen on Monday in the southern city of Zamboanga, was rescued an hour after he was abducted, said city police chief Senior Supt. Edwin de Ocampo.

To, owner of a furniture shop, was forced into a white Besta van with plate number JVG 596 by at least three men, police said.

According to De Ocampo, as soon as the police received the report about the abduction, operatives immediately responded and started pursuing the suspects.

To was saved by policemen amid a brief exchange of gunfire with the kidnappers in Morning Breeze, Tubungan, shortly before midnight.

During the gun battle, the kidnappers eluded arrest but the police recovered their get-away public utility van.

Before the incident, To, together with three companions, alighted from a motorized tricycle at Waray Drive, and while they were walking on their way home, a passenger van with plate number JVG-596 stopped in front of them and four men who were armed with short firearms alighted and forcibly took him at gun point, a police report disclosed.

To was forced by the kidnappers to ride on the vehicle then they sped towards Tugbungan area.His companions immediately reported the incident to the Tetuan Police Station under Chief Insp. Haywien Salvado.

Acting on the report, Salvado and his men conducted a hot pursuit operation. The incident was also flashed alarm on all police and military installations.

The report further added that when the suspects along with the victim arrived near Talon-Talon area, they were blocked by police force coming from Mampang.

At this point, the suspects sped towards Morning Breeze where they figured in a running gun battle with the policemen who were chasing them.

The vehicle reportedly stopped at the interior portion of Morning Breeze where To managed to jump out of the car and he was saved by the policemen.

The kidnappers scampered in different directions leaving the vehicle behind.

During the investigation, police found out that the passenger van is owned by a certain barangay chairman in Albarca, Basilan.

The vehicle fetches passengers from the cities of Isabela City and Lamitan. It has been taken to the 9th PNP Crime Laboratory purposely to lift some finger prints.

While no group claimed responsibility, Philippine military officials blamed the Al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaff group for the kidnapping.