The hostaged group reportedly included two lawyers and some Sultan Kudarat-based journalists while on the way to the Maguindanao election office, located at the provincial capitol in Shariff Aguak town.

Buluan, Maguindanao Vice Mayor Ibrahim "Toto" Mangudadatu, a gubernatorial aspirant who intends to challenge administration bet Andal Ampatuan said he received sketchy reports that six of the hostages were killed, one of whom was beheaded.

Police and military authorities have yet to confirm the veracity of the report, but have confirmed the hostage-taking and the political tensions that have been brewing in Maguindanao.

Mangudadatu said he asked his wife Genalyn Kiamson-Mangudadatu, his sister Mangudadatu town Vice Mayor Eden and youngest sibling Bai Farina to file his certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Elections in Shariff Aguak when they were blocked on the national highway of Barangay Old Maganoy by fully armed men in fatigue uniforms.

The group, according to Mangudadatu, was also accompanied by two female lawyers -- Cynthia Okindo and Connie Bresuela -- and about 30 media practitioners who included freelance journalist Andy Teodoro and a UNTV crew of the Sorianos (Eli Soriano and Daniel Soriano Razon).

"All of them are still missing and their cell phones could not be contacted," said Mangudadatu.

"As of now, we are at a loss on the report that says six were killed and one was beheaded," said the Buluan vice mayor, who happens to be the nephew of SK Rep. Pax Mangudadatu.

Lt. Col. Jonathan Ponce, spokesperson of the 6th Infantry Division, said they were still verifying information as of Monday afternoon.

No one from the Ampatuans would wish to comment on the latest breakdown of law and order in the province.

Even the mobile phone of provincial election supervisor Estelita Orbase at the provincial capitol could not be contacted.

The report of election-related violence surfaced while Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan of the Autonous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan were reportedly in Manila for an emergency meeting with presidential adviser on political affairs Gabriel Claudio.

Health workers in Maguindanao said some of them had to go home early to this city in trying to evade the volatile situation.

Ponce said additional troops have been deployed to secure the Comelec office and other government facilities from possible retaliation by the aggrieved parties.

"We will see to it that the situation is under control," Ponce said.

An insider from the Ampatuan clan said the Mangudadatu convoy was flagged down to check on firearms and explosives, but armed bodyguards refused to submit to an inspection, which led to a commotion.

Meanwhile, Cotabato City-based reporters dispatched to cover the Maguindanao hostage-taking had to return to base when told of the hazards waiting at the scene.

Told to back-off by government security troops were ABS-CBN and GMA television crew and other print and broadcast journalists.

Loreto Rosario of the Catholic-run DXMS radio said "the situation is too hot and we were told to wait for it to cool off."

Rey Bagonoc of GMA-Cotabato said "I was prevented from taking footage as soldiers and civilians told us not to proceed. Delikado raw (The situation was dangerous)."

Lerio Bompat of ABS-CBN said the reporters were limited to the Capitol premises. Journalists were advised not to go to the scene of the crime, about 5 kilometers away from the Comelec office, Bompat said.