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ZAMBOANGA - Two female Christian preachers who have just escaped from the Abu Sayyaf band said yesterday they are afraid that the group would go after their families in revenge. One of the two recounted how she witnessed her husband being beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf, which has been linked by Washington and Manila to Al-Qaeda. Ms Cleofe Mantulo, 49, and Ms Emily Mantic, 28, were taken by the military to Zamboanga from the island of Jolo, where the Abu Sayyaf seized them along with two other women and two men, all Jehovah's Witnesses, in August. The two slipped away...

2 kidnapped preachers escape ZAMBOANGA - Two Christian preachers, abducted by Abu Sayyaf rebels in the Philippines last year, escaped during a firefight between the military and their captors, President Gloria Arroyo said yesterday. Filipinas Emily Mantic and Cleofe Mantulo gave their captors the slip late on Friday during the fight on southern Jolo island, said Mrs Arroyo. The women were among six Jehovah's Witnesses preachers abducted by the Abu Sayyaf in August last year. Two men were beheaded and the military says the rebels are still holding two women. 'Two more hostages of the Abu Sayyaf escaped in Sulu...