Abu Sayyaf bandits have abducted the principal of an elementary school in Patikul town in Sulu province Monday, a military report said.

An advisory message form Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) said 12 fully-armed Abu Sayyaf terrorists abducted Gabriel "Bong" Canizares, a 36-year old resident of lower San Raymundo in Sulu’s capital town Jolo and the principal of Kanague Elementary School in Patikul.

The reported abduction reportedly occurred along Kilometer 7 Barangay Tanum, Patikul about 4:20 p.m. Monday.

The advisory said Canizares was onboard a passenger Tamaraw jeepney enroute to Jolo with his co-teachers when he was taken by the gunmen.

The WesMinCom advisory said that operatives are hot on the abductors’ trail. With a report from Angelo Gutierrez, abs-cbnNEWS.com