Zamboanga City, Philippines  - Philippine police Wednesday rescued three public school teachers abducted six months ago by Islamic militants, a provincial police chief said.

The three victims were recovered in Ungkaya Pukan town in Basilan province, 900 kilometres south of Manila, according to Senior Superintendent Abubakar Tulawi.

Tulawi said details about the rescue operations were still unclear but confirmed the teachers were unharmed.

The three teachers were aboard a motorized boat when they were seized in March by Muslim Abu Sayyaf rebels off Naga town in nearby Zamboanga Sibugay province.

The kidnappers, aboard another motorized boat, blocked the teachers' vessel and forcibly took the victims. The rebels had threatened to harm the hostages in the past if ransom was not paid. (dpa)