Gunmen have reportedly kidnapped a Norwegian, two Canadians and a local woman from a tourist resort in the southern Philippines, the military has said.

A spokesman for the army said gunmen kidnapped the group from the Holiday Oceanview resort on Samal Island, near Davao City on Mindanao, late on Monday.

Police officials and the army were surprised by the attack, The Globe and Mail reports .

"Four people were taken but we do not know what group was behind the attack," Philippines army Captain Alberto Caber said.

"It appeared the foreigners were the targets, they were not taken at random."

Capt. Caber said the foreigners were identified as John Ridsel and Robert Hall from Canada, and Kjartan Sekkingstad, the Norwegian resort manager. The Filipino woman was not identified.

The gunmen reportedly spokes English and Tagalog, the language widely spoken in the area.

Two Japanese tourists also reportedly tried to intervene but were unsuccessful.

Three Navy ships were sent to search for the gunmen's boat.

This is a breaking news article. More information will be added as it comes to hand.