May 31, 1995, Seattle Times News Services, 2 Muslim extremist leaders escape jail in the Philippines,

May 31, 1995, Seattle Times News Services, 2 Muslim extremist leaders escape jail in the Philippines,

MANILA, Philippines - Two ranking officers of a Muslim extremist group blamed for a spate of bombings and raids in the southern Philippines have escaped from their Manila jail cell, police said today.

Khadafy Janjalani and Juvenal Bruno, described by police as ranking leaders of the Abu Sayyaf fundamentalist group, escaped Monday through the ceilings of their cells at the national police headquarters, a police spokesman said.

Janjalani is the brother of Abu Sayyaf chief Abubakar Janjalani, while Bruno is the group's intelligence officer. They were arrested on southern Jolo Island in February and brought to Manila for questioning.

Police blamed Abu Sayyaf guerrillas for a savage raid on the southern town of Ipil in April in which 53 people, mostly unarmed civilians, were massacred.