A state of emergency was declared in parts of the Philippines on Tuesday as 24 bodies were discovered in a shallow grave, bringing the death toll from a politically-motivated massacre on Monday to 46.

The victims were attacked in the island of Mindanao's Maguindanao province by a large group of gunmen as they travelled to file nomination papers for a local mayor intending to participate in a governorship election.

A number of females were raped before being shot and there have also been reports of beheadings, national media said. The candidate's wife was also among the dead. Media reports also said 12 journalists were among those slaughtered.

Philippines military authorities suspect provincial governor Andal Ampatuan of ordering his private army to carry out the attack. Troops have been deployed to search for him.

"I order all units to pursue the perpetrators, to restore order and secure affected areas in Maguindanao," the national news agency PNA quoted President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as saying.

Political violence is common in the Philippines.

According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, 121 people were killed in the country ahead of the 2007 parliamentary elections, and the 2004 election campaign was accompanied by 148 murders.

JAKARTA, November 24 (RIA Novosti)