The bodies of 21 people abducted in the south of the Philippines earlier today have been found.

They were part of a group of about 30 taken prisoner by gunmen. The Philippine army is still looking for the other people who were kidnapped. The victims are several journalists as well as the supporters, relatives and the wife of a mayor belonging to the Mangudadatu clan.

The mayor's wife was on her way to file her husband's candidacy in the elections for the governorship of Maguindanao province scheduled to be held next year. The army blames supporters of the rival Ampatuan clan for the abductions and subsequent executions. The government has vowed to take action against the killers.

Photo: Philippine army soldiers on patrol on main highway in Maguindanao province (Flickr / Joe Galvez)