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ZAMBOANGA, Philippines, Monday (AFP) Communist guerrillas have killed four people and abducted 18 others in a raid on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, the military said Monday.

Several dozen New People's Army (NPA) gunmen killed four residents, ransacked houses and set the structures on fire on Friday before leaving the village of Binicalan with 22 hostages and several animals in tow, said Major Johnny Macanas, spokesman for an army division in the area.

Four of the 18 hostages escaped and reported the attack to the authorities, he added.

The remote hamlet is located near San Luis town on the Agusan river basin.

"There is an ongoing operation. Troops are tracking down the rebels and their captives," Macanas said.

He said the rebels murdered four brothers, one of them belonging to a pro-government militia force.

Many of those abducted were former NPA rebels who have since surrendered, he added.

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