MANILA, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Philippine military and police have rescued four hostages at a southern Philippine town in Zamboanga del Norte province, the military said on Tuesday.

The military said the kidnapped victims were rescued around 3 p.m. on Monday. "(They) were left by their disoriented captors after soldiers and policemen had been relentlessly pursuing them," the military said.

The military said the victims, all chainsaw operators and workers, are local residents. They were reportedly abducted on March 3 by "lawless elements".

"They were originally five when they were kidnapped. However, one of them was hit in the crossfire during an encounter between our soldiers and their captors on March 7," Major General Roseller Murillo said.

Murillo said the troops are still tracking down the kidnapper group.