The dead bodies of 21 people have been found by soldiers in the Philippines today after gunmen hijacked a convoy of politicians and supporters filing nominations for next year’s elections.

A military spokesman said the victims included 13 women and eight men.

They were found in a remote village in the southern Ampatuan township, where the people aboard the convoy were taken hostage as they travelled in three vans.

The identities of the gunmen are currently unclear, but victims’ relatives have already blamed political rivals.