In the Philippines, tribal gunmen have abducted 16 children and adults in a bid to have their leader released from prison after he was jailed for another mass kidnapping. Police said the kidnappers have threatened to kill their hostages, who include at least two students and were taken captive yesterday from a number of schools in a remote town of Mindanao. According to police, there were at least six armed kidnappers, who took their captives into nearby mountainous terrain. Regional military spokesman Major Eugenio Osias said soldiers had been deployed in the area and were awaiting orders from the government negotiating team.