The Philippines declared a state of emergency in parts of the volatile south yesterday as anger spiralled over a savage political massacre that has left at least 46 people dead.

Police on Mindanao island pulled bullet-ridden bodies from shallow graves in this remote farming area after gunmen allegedly employed by a local political chief abducted then shot dead a group of rival politicians and journalists.

As thousands of troops fanned out across the ultra-tense Maguindanao province, President Gloria Arroyo declared a state of emergency for the area that would allow curfews and road checkpoints to be imposed.

"No effort will be spared to bring justice to the victims and hold the perpetrators accountable to the full limit of the law," Arroyo said on national television.

National police spokesman Chief Superintendent Leodardo Espina told reporters in Manila that 24 bodies had been recovered on Tuesday, on top of 22 that had been found on Monday.

The top policeman in the southern Philippine province where 46 people were murdered was sacked and detained on Tuesday after three of his deputies were implicated in the massacre, authorities said.

Witnesses said Chief Superintendent Sukarno Dicay, the deputy police chief of Maguindanao province, were present when gunmen allegedly linked to a political kingpin shot dead associates of a rival politician and journalists.

"He (Dicay) was seen at the scene of the crime together with some CAFGUs," national police chief spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said.