Manila, Philippines - A Church in the Philippines says one of its members has been abducted by security forces, shortly before President Gloria Aroyo's attendance at a regional interfaith dialogue in New Zealand.
Her New Zealand visit has been punctuated with protests about the human rights record in the Philippines.
Pastor Berlin Guerrero was taken at gunpoint by a number of armed men in two vans with covered plates in the region of Malaban on Sunday, following a church service.
The United Church of Christ says about 30 of its pastors have been killed since President Gloria Aroyo was elected in 2001.
Bishop Eliezer Pascua of the United Church says he hopes some of the pressure the President has faced in New Zealand will help bring about change.