MANILA (Reuters) - Gunmen abducted and killed at least 21 people in the southern Philippines on Monday, apparently to prevent a woman filing her husband's nomination to run for provincial governor in elections next year, the military said.

Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner said the bodies of 13 women and eight men were found in the area where about 30 people were taken hostage.

"We believe more bodies are buried," Brawner said. "Unfortunately the killing happened before our troops got there."

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