Manila  - An Irish Catholic priest was snatched by six armed men from his mission's residence in a southern Philippine city, a regional police chief said Monday.

Michael Sinot, a Columban missionary, was abducted late Sunday at the Columban House in Pagadian City, according to Chief Superintendent Angel Sunglao.

Sunglao said the suspects barged into the Columban House in downtown Pagadian, 890 kilometres south of Manila, and took Sinot at gunpoint to a waiting mini-van.

Police investigators said the suspects, who were not yet identified, burned the mini-van in the nearby village of Santa Lucia and transferred the victim to a motorized boat.

Sunglao said the al-Qaeda-linked Muslim Abu Sayyaf rebels could be behind the kidnapping since they are the only ones who have the capability to pull such a daring act.

Witnesses said the suspects, along with their victim, fled toward the direction of Zamboanga del Sur province. (dpa)