11 more bodies found in mass grave, raising Philippine massacre death toll to 46

11 more Philippine victims found; death toll to 46

AMPATUAN, Philippines — A police official says 11 more bodies have been unearthed from a mass grave in the southern Philippines, bringing the death toll from a massacre of political supporters and journalists to 46.

Police Chief Superintendent Josefino Cataluna says 11 bodies were recovered before sundown Tuesday from a hillside grave. Eleven other victims were discovered there earlier in the day.

Police said a convoy of about 40 people was going to register Ismael Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan township, Monday to run for provincial governor when they were stopped by about 100 gunmen.

Soldiers and police found 24 bullet-riddled bodies Monday including those of Mangudadatu’s wife Genalyn and his two sisters.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A Philippine police official says 11 more bodies have been recovered from a mass grave in the country’s south, raising the number of massacre victims to 35.

Chief Superintendent Josefino Cataluna says Tuesday more bodies are expected to be recovered in a remote hilly area in southern Ampatuan township where supporters of a local politician and journalists traveling in a convoy were seized by dozens of gunmen Monday.

Police said the convoy of about 40 people was going to register Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan township, to run for provincial governor when they were stopped.

Soldiers and police later found 24 bodies, including those of Mangudadatu’s wife, Genalyn, and his two sisters, sprawled on the ground or shot in their vehicles.