MANILA, Philippines ? (UPDATE) Malacanang on Monday condemned the abduction and killing of a group of politicians and journalists in Maguindanao and ordered authorities to hunt down perpetrators.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said the Philippine National Police has been ordered to immediately mobilize its forces in the province to ensure that the groups behind the violent incident are arrested.

The PNP was also tasked to coordinate with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Commission of Elections and the local government in implementing tighter security measures to avert similar election-related incidents.

In a separate statement, presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio said they are still trying to get the details of the incident.

?We are in shock and in total outrage. Justice will be served and the perpetrators will be punished, whoever they are,? Claudio said.

Interviewed via telephone, Maguindanao Representative Simeon Datumanong said he has sought the help of Malacanang on the incident.

Datumanong, who is in Manila, said he has asked the PNP to ?saturate the area? with police personnel to restore peace and order.

Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina, PNP spokesman, confirmed that at least 21 were killed, 13 of whom are women. He said they are still verifying the identities of the victims.

Among those reportedly taken were the wife of a mayor in Maguindanao province, Esmael Mangundadatu, his aides and supporters, according to the military.

The journalists were accompanying Mangudadatu's group to a local elections office to file his candidacy for governorship of the predominantly Muslim Maguindanao province in the May 2010 polls when they were seized by the gunmen.

Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on Mindanao, said he would recommend the imposition of state of emergency in the area and for the immediate disarming of all residents.

"This is gruesome massacre of civilians unequaled in recent history. Even working media men were not spared. There must be a total stop to this senseless violence," he said.