Fmr. Italian Missionary Kidnapped in Philippines

The search for a former Italian Catholic missionary is underway in the Philippines. Police in Manila say six men kidnapped Rolando del Torchio on Wednesday.

Police Chief Superintendent Ranie Hachuela believes del Torchio was taken from his pizza restaraunt in Dipolong City, Zamboanga del Norte Province.

"The abductors had I think an armalite (rifle) inside a box when they entered. It was quiet at first. Then it was chaotic; then everything happened," the restaurant cashier, who was not named, told The Associated Press.

Hachuela said del Torchio was taken from the restaraunt into a van and then on to a motor boat, and that some of the abductors were armed.

Del Torchio's kidnapping comes on the heels of an incident last month where two Canadian tourists, a Norwegian and a Filipino woman were kidnapped from an upscale marina in the Samal Island in Davao del Norte Province. Authorities say there has been no trace of the four.

On Thursday, air force helicopters and navy patrol boats and army police officers joined the search for del Torchio.