Chinese-Filipino traders in the southern Philippines urged Monday government security forces to arrest personalities behind the series of abduction in the restive south as their life remains in danger.

Yu Beng Chua, president of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce, made the appeal in the wake of new case of kidnapping on Saturday night in this southern city.

Yuloyu Lim Yu, 56, owner of Yuking Guan Hardware, was kidnapped by six armed men around 9:00 p.m. in front of a hotel along Governor Gutierrez Avenue in the southern city of Cotabato.

The victim was forcibly dragged at gunpoint to a waiting getaway vehicle that caught the attention of security guard of hotel.

Responding government security forces recovered the kidnappers' vehicle, a red Toyota corolla with license plate number PN NXY 153, after it crashed to an electric post not far from where they took the victim.

"We condemn the abduction. It's unexpected because we have elements of the Philippines Marines deployed in the city," Chua said.

Marines were deployed last year in the city to help local police and military in securing civilians and Filipino-Chinese businessmen from organized crime groups, including kidnappers.

Chua said the business community wants lawmen not only to secure the public from criminals but to arrest and put behind bars those behind the kidnapping.

Muslim separatist rebels joined government security forces in the search and rescue operation for an elderly Chinese trader.

Eid Kabalu, spokesman for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, said that ground commanders were directed by their central committee to monitor the kidnappers' movement holding. "Our men were also directed to use force as well engage with the kidnappers if necessary," Kabalu said.

"It is our moral obligation to help people who are in need, irrespective of confessional or nationality," he added.

The rebel official said the move was coordinated with government ceasefire members but the possibility of miss-encounter with Marine troops may occur.

"It's dangerous because it's too difficult for our men to coordinate movement," Kabalu said.

No one group claimed responsibility for the latest abduction but authorities blamed members of the dreaded Pentagon gang in previous incidents.

A gun culture, a decades-old Muslim insurgency, and weak rule of law have been cited by observers as contributing to frequent kidnappings in the region.

Last year, a number of kidnapping cases among local Chinese have transpired in Cotabato.

On October 8, gunmen seized Conchita Atienza Tan, 73, wife of Lucio Tan (not the Taipan business tycoon), owner of the LCT Hardware. A family driver and security personnel died when they shot it out with the suspects.

Tan was released after her family pays ransom money to her captors.

In 2001, Pentagon abducted Italian priest Guissepe Pierrantoni while he was officiating a Mass in Dimatali town, Zamboanga del Sur.

Pierrantoni was released on April 8, 2002, after six months in captivity.