The bodies were found hours after Buluan town vice Mayor Ishmael 'Toto' Mangudadatu received a text message from his wife, Genalyn, at 10am, that their convoy was blocked by some 50 armed men while they were on their way to file his certificate of candidacy for governor at the Commission on Elections office in Shariff Aguak town, Maguindanao.

Ishmael Magudadatu said that as of 5pm, the military has recovered the bodies of his wife, Genalyn and 35 others. He said his wife was raped and then killed.

The others who were found dead, according to Ishmael, were his lawyers Cynthia Oquendo and Connie Brizuela; Mr. Oquendo, the father of Cynthia; Bai Eden Mangudadatu, sister of the vice-mayor; Rowena Mangudadatu; Manguba Bai Mangudadatu; and Farida Mangudadatu, the vice mayor’s youngest sister;

Also kidnapped were:

* Journalists Ian Tublan, Leah Dalmacio, Gina dela Cruz, Marites Cabutas, Bart Maravilla of Bombo radyo Koronadal; Joy Duay; Henry Araneta of DZRH radio; Andy Teodoro; Bong Reblando of Manila Bulletin; Mac-mac Areola; Jimmy Cabillo; and Nening Montaño of DXCP radio;

* Supporters and staff of the vice mayor, drivers Rasul Daud, Eugene Dohilyo, Chito, Abdula Hajdi and Patrick Pamansan; Wahida Ali Kaliman; Farida Sabdula; Zoraida Vernan; Victor Nuñez; certain Unto; Zaida Abdul; Pinky Balayman; Ella Balayman; Rahima Piopo, who came from Palawan; Farina Mangudadatu and Meriam Calico.

Buluan town Mayor Ebrahim Mangudadatu said 20 bodies were initially recovered earlier but more bodies were seen scattered in the area.

Mangudadatu said some of the victims were buried. He said a backhoe, which was apparently used to dig the graves, was still in the area.

The backhoe even had “A Property of the Provincial Government of Maguindanao” printed on it, the mayor said.

The journalists with the group were there to cover the filing of the certificate of candidacy by Buluan town vice mayor Ishmael “Toto” Mangudadatu.

The 34 journalists, aboard three vehicles, were part of the convoy led by vice mayor Eden Mangudadatu of Mangudadatu town in Maguindanao, who was tasked by his brother to file his COC with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial office in Shariff Aguak town, Maguindanao.

Vice mayor Mangudadatu of Buluan town earlier told the Inquirer by phone that he received a text message around 10am Monday, that the convoy was intercepted along the national highway particularly in the boundary of Ampatuan and Sharif Aguak towns.

Mangudadatu sent his wife and two sisters and several other women supporters to formally file his COC with the Comelec to avoid creating tension.

In Manila, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said that 21 bodies were recovered but the military said they were found in Barangay Salman, Ampatuan town in Maguindanao.

Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., the spokesman of the Armed Forces said that out of the scores of relatives and supporters of Mangudadatu who were reported abducted, 21 have been confirmed killed.

At the time Brawner gave his statement, he said 13 of the fatalities were women. "But there is no indication yet in our report how they were killed," he told reporters.

Mangudadatu said he sent his female relatives, hoping that his political enemies would not harm them. “I was expecting they will not harm them because they were all women. No security escorts were even sent to accompany them as I trust the police and military could protect them,” Mangudadatu said.

Mangudadatu is running for a post held by the Ampatuans. Datu Unsay town mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., is reportedly the one eyeing to replace his father, Andal Sr.

The vice mayor appealed for sobriety from among his family and relatives.

“Let’s trust Allah. We should maintain our composure,” he said.

The convoy left Buluan town past 9am but the Inquirer along with Joseph Jubelag of Manila Standard Today and Paul Bernaldez of Bandera dropped by a hotel in Tacurong City where the journalists stayed overnight.

A hotel staff informed the three reporters that two motorcycle-riding men asked for the whereabouts of the media. They even tried to get the names of all journalists covering the scheduled filing of the COC of Mangudadatu. The hotel staff, however, did not give the names of journalists claiming they didn’t have the list.

Sensing danger ahead, the three journalists decided not to proceed to Shariff Aguak.

The Inquirer tried to contact the journalists who travelled with the convoy but they could no longer be reached.