Justice vow over Philippines massacre

Some 40 people, among them reporters and local officials, were kidnapped on Monday by armed men in the country's southern Maguindanao province.

The bodies of 21 of the hostages were found later by armed forces. The search is on for the remaining captives.

"This is a gruesome massacre of civilians unequalled in recent history," said Jess Dureza, President Gloria Arroyo's adviser on the strife-torn southern region of Mindanao.

"There must be a total stop to this senseless violence. I strongly recommend that a state of emergency be imposed in the area and everyone be disarmed. Anything less will not work."

'Justice will be served'

Arroyo's adviser on political affairs, Gabriel Claudio, expressed similar sentiments.

"We're in shock and in total outrage," Claudio said. "Justice will be served and the perpetrators punished, whoever they are."

The victims were among a group of about 40 people kidnapped on Monday morning by armed men in Maguindanao province.

The military said the others remained unaccounted for, but clearing operations were ongoing to find them in a hinterland area.

The journalists were accompanying the wife of Esmael Mangudadato and his supporters to file his candidacy for governorship of the mostly Muslim southern province of Maguindanao in next year's national elections.

They were stopped at a roadside checkpoint and forcibly carted off by men with links to the incumbent governor Andal Ampatuan, the military said.

The Mangudadatu clan is known to have a long-running feud with the family of Ampatuan, who police say is known to control his own private army. Members of the Ampatuan family were unreachable.