Philippine gunmen abducted on Thursday 75 civilians in the southern province of Agusan del Sur, authorities said.
Seventeen children and one adult were later released as negotiations continued, army officials said.
Army Major Michelle Anayron told the Mindanao Examiner, "We still don't know the motives behind the abduction," adding that police and military forces had been sent to the area.
Police said the attackers initially abducted 125 people, but 50 hostages escaped.
No rebel group has claimed responsibility for the abductions. Some reports have pointed to the Perez crime group as being behind the attack.
Several Muslim separatist groups have been fighting for an independent Islamic state in the region, and communist rebels have also been engaged in a 40-year insurgency there.
In November, at least 57 people were massacred in the southern Maguindanao province, which led to the imposition of martial law in the province.
JAKARTA, December 10 (RIA Novosti)
