British missionary believed kidnapped in Philippines

Pastor David Brash, a British missionary has gone missing in Bukidnon province in the southern Philippines.

He has been missing since 22 November and is believed to have been kidnapped by an as yet unidentified person or group, reports AllHeadlinesNews.

The southern Philippines is known to host several Muslim separatist groups as well as Abu Sayyaf, an al-Qaeda linked group which carries out kidnappings of both locals and foreigners for ransom money.

Pastor Brash is a missionary with a Baptist church and is not believed to have returned to his home in Libertad village, Butuan City. The last sighting of Brash was when he was on his way to a friend's house in Bukidnon.

Earlier on in the year Abu Sayyaf extremists abducted Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi. Bossi was released after 39 days. There is currently no confirmation that the Italian Government paid a ransom for his release.