ISABELA CITY — Armed men ambushed a group of voters and poll watchers at sea on board a speedboat coming from Zamboanga City to Hadji Muhtamad town in Basilan province, killing three of them and injuring four others.

Hadja Hannah Mansul, wife of former Hadji Muhtamad Mayor Jamar Mansul said yesterday that armed men ambushed them at sea about 2 a.m. yesterday.

Hannah said they were approaching the coastal area of Sangbay Island Big when they were fired upon with automatic rifles by a group of unidentified armed men.

She added that they were unarmed when they were attacked by the armed group. She, however, did not name the group that attacked them.

Killed during the sea ambush were Samir Jamiri, Ramusi Abdurakman, Ben Mapil. Four other passengers were injured.

Special Forces personnel of the Philippine Army rushed to the area and rescued Hannah and her companions, and retrieved the dead and those injured.

They were immediately brought to this city for safety, while those wounded were brought to the hospital for medication

Brig. Gen. Alvin Luzon, commander of the 101st Infantry “Three Red Arrows” Brigade in Basilan, confirmed the incident.

Hannah’s husband, Jamar, is running for mayor of the town, challenging Arsina Kahing Nanoh, the incumbent mayor.