MANILA - The military is still hunting down three Abu Sayyaf members who escaped the gunfight in the town of Clarin, Bohol on Saturday.

"Ito po ay nagpapatuloy pa dahil meron pa po tayong tatlong hinahanap na parte ng pitong natira noong nakaraang Semana Santa, matapos ang unang sagupaan sa grupong ito," said Brigadier General Restituto Padilla, spokesperson of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The AFP is urging residents in the area to remain vigilant as they continue pursuit operations in Bohol.

"Nariyan po ang ating mga kasamahan sa Armed Forces at mga kapulisan sa lugar ng Clarin. Naniniwala po kami 'yung tatlong naiiwan, hindi na magtatagal at mahahanap na natin," Padilla said.

"Malaking tulong ang mga impormasyon na natatanggap natin mula sa ating mga kababayan sa lugar na ito," he added.

Padilla said the Abu Sayyaf members in Bohol are members of an "elite group," engaged in kidnapping activities away from Mindanao.

He believes that kidnap-for-ransom activities by the Abu Sayyaf will decrease once they catch all the members of this group.

Four Abu Sayyaf fighters, including Joselito Melloria, alias Abu Alih, were killed by the military on Saturday in Clarin.

The bodies of the three other Abu Sayyaf members have yet to be identified, the AFP said.