15 more bodies were found at the site of a massacre in the southern part of the country, said Philippine National Police Chief Jesus Versoza.

At least five more people are still missing.

A group of women and journalist from Maguindanao, who were on their way to file a nomination for the provincial governor’s post, was abducted by gunmen on Monday.

The victims were kidnapped, mutilated, hacked to death and shot on a remote area off the highway.

Local media reported that some of the bodies have been run over and others were buried alive in shallow graves. Only four were able to survive.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has already declared a state of emergency in the province.

“The army has identified a main suspect as a town mayor in fact, who belongs to one of the prominent political families, who happen also to be very,  very close to our administration here,” Nonoy Espina from the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines said.

Hundreds of troops have been brought in to aid in this crisis.