Arroyo promises justice after massacre

MANILA, Philippines, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo promised Tuesday those behind a political massacre of 46 people would be brought to justice.

Gabriel Claudio, a political adviser to the president, said Arroyo will be firm even if the massacre turns out to have been the work of her political allies, the family of Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., the Philippine Inquirer reported.

"You can be sure that politics will not get in the way," he said. "Justice will be served and the perpetrators of this crime will not go unpunished."

Search teams removed two dozen bodies from shallow graves Tuesday in the Philippines, bringing the pre-election massacre's death toll to 46, officials said.

Arroyo declared a state of emergency and sent military and police to search for suspects in Maguindanao province on the island of Mindanao where dozens were kidnapped in election-related violence, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

Local and international media reported different numbers of hostages taken and killed.

The kidnapped group -- which included the wife of a gubernatorial candidate, local journalists and lawyers -- was abducted Monday while traveling in a convoy to file the candidate's nomination papers for the May election.

The dead included the candidate's wife and two sisters, The Times of London reported.

Military officials said the attackers were loyal to Ampatuan, who has controlled the area for a decade,

CNN reported.

Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, a former senatorial candidate, called the slaughter an "acid test" for Arroyo, saying she will have to choose between her loyal supporters and those who were killed.