MANILA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The Maute group of Philippine militants, which occupied and torched a Roman Catholic cathedral, a city jail and at least two schools in southern Philippine Marawi city on the island of Mindanao since Tuesday, has abducted a number of residents, including a priest and a college professor, media reports said on Wednesday.
President Rodrigo Duterte has placed Mindanao and nearby island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Taw-Tawi in the southern Philippines under martial law, and vowed to be "harsh" in dealing with the local militant group.
The militants took priest Teresito Soganub, professor Maria Luisa Colina, parish secretary Wendelyn Mayormita, two working students and some parishioners on Tuesday, bishop Edwin dela Pena of the Prelature of Marawi said in an interview with radio DzBB.
"We have not heard anything about them," Dela Pena said, adding there might be more people have been kidnapped.
Media reports also said that many residents have fled the city.
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