By SUNIL Sonkar

MANILA, Philippine: Two southern provinces in Philippine has been put under a state of emergency by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Tuesday in order to give to security forces free hands to pursue the gunmen who killed at least 24 people in one of Philippine’s worst election massacres.

The emergency measures along with the checkpoints and random searches by the authorities will remain in place until the President is confident about the two province that law and order have been restored said spokesman of Arroyo.

The attack by the gunmen took place on Monday on a convoy of vehicles filled with supporters of a gubernatorial candidate. His relatives, wife, and several journalists was also on the vehicle.

Candidate Ismael Mangudadatu was not a part of the convoy, but has been accused for his powerful political rival of being behind the slayings.