Two Canadians, a Norwegian resort manager and a Filipino woman were taken by boat from the resort in Samal Island before midnight on Monday. Authorities believe they were deliberately targeted.

Since the incident the FCO has reiterated its advice against all travel to the country’s south west reiong and all but essential travel to its south east.

The advice reads: “There is a threat from kidnapping, particularly in the southern Philippines.

“Kidnapping could occur anywhere, including on coastal and island resorts and on dive boats and sites in the Sulu Sea.

“Foreigners have been targeted in rural, urban and coastal areas in the past. On 21 September a group of foreigners were reported kidnapped from a boat near a resort on Samal Island in Davao del Norte.

“The long-standing policy of the British government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers.

“The British government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increases the risk of further hostage taking.”