ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE -- Six gunmen believed to be members of kidnap-for-ransom group have abducted the son of Labason town mayor Eddie Quimbo on Wednesday night, a top police official reported Thursday.

Chief Superintendent Billy Beltran, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula director, identified the victim as Jelster Ed Quimbo, 28, a businessman.

Beltran said Quimbo was abducted at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday in the said town.

Beltran said the gunmen forced Quimbo to board a van, which then sped towards the nearby municipality of Gutalac.

Barely 10 minutes after the incident, the van was found abandoned in Barangay Osukan, Labason.

Beltran said the suspects may have boarded a motorboat at the shores of Osukan.

The police have already coordinated with the military to rescue the victim.

Beltran appealed to the public to report to the authorities about the presence of the victim in their community.