Six hostages kidnapped by Muslim rebels a week ago had escaped during a clash between the guerrillas and troops, according to the Philippine President Ms Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
She said also that the leader of the Abu Sayyaf rebels, Khadafy Janjalani, was killed in the fighting in the town of Lamitan, 900 km (550 miles) south of Manila.
Officials had previously said four Filipinos, including an eight-year-old boy, had escaped during the day.
There was no immediate word who the other two who escapees were.
The rebels had kidnapped 20 people, including three Americans, from Dos Palmas island resort last Sunday.
