A member of a powerful political clan in the Philippines accused of leading the massacre of 57 journalists and members of a rival's family pleaded not guilty on the first day of his trial.

A leading member of a powerful political clan was arrested today accused of leading the Philippines election massacre.

A member of a powerful clan and the prime suspect in the massacre of 57 people in an election caravan has turned himself in.

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.

The death toll from a Christmas Eve bomb attack outside the home of the Mayor of a town in the southern Philippines rose to 16 today, as authorities searched for clues in the blast.