Three suspected kidnappers holding a Chinese-Filipino woman were killed as they clashed with security forces Wednesday morning in the restive southern Philippines, an Army official said.

Soldiers clashed with undetermined number of armed men led by Tong Abbas of the Pentagon kidnapping-for-ransom gang, the group holding Leonarda Tan Kian and helper Bernardo Isidro in the vicinity of Taviran village of Datu Odin Sinsuat township in Maguindanao province early Wednesday morning, Army 603rd Brigade Commander Colonel Ernesto Aradanas told reporters.

Abbas and two others were killed in the clash, Aradanas said, but she did not say how the encounter will affect the conditions of the two hostages.

"They withdrew later after troops reinforcement arrive. We are not certain if the captives are with them," Aradanas said.

Kian and Isidro were on her way home on board a public vehicle when five armed men snatched her away on last Sunday, only hours after a Chinese national was freed by his captors in the nearby North Cotabato province.

The victim is half sister of wealthy Chinese-Filipino trader Manuel Tan who runs a hotel and several establishments in the city, was brought by her captors in the remote village of Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao province.

(Xinhua News Agency June 3, 2009)