MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) Two senior police officers and three other policemen have been sacked after being linked to the massacre of at least 24 politicians and journalists in Maguindanao, the Philippine National Police said Tuesday.

Chief Inspector Sukarno Dicay, the deputy provincial police chief of Maguindanao, and Maguindanao police provincial director Abusana Maguid have been relieved, said PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina.

He said Dicay was relieved "after being reportedly seen at the scene of the incident” with members of some members of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit militia who are trained by the government to fight local insurgencies.

Three other policemen, two of whom were identified as Inspector Diongon and Senior Police Officer 2 Baccal, and several CAFGU members were also relieved, Espina said.

All were placed in "restrictive custody" at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group headquarters in Cotabato City, he said.

Dicay was the second highest-ranking police official in Maguindanao province that authorities says is linked to a power struggle between rival clans.

Gunmen abducted the victims Monday as they were travelling on a highway, took them to an isolated area and murdered them, police and the military said.

The military said the Ampatuan clan, which has a political lock on the areas of Maguindanao where the murders took place, were the prime suspects.

"The suspects are bodyguards of Ampatuan, local police aides and certain lawless elements," military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner said.

Among those killed were relatives of Esmael Mangudadatu, who was planning to run for governor in next year's national elections against a member of the rival Ampatuan clan.

Journalists accompanying the Mangudadatus to an electoral office to file certificate of candidacies were also murdered.

Espina said PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa flew to Maguindanao to oversee the manhunt operations and to ensure the immediate arrest of suspects in the killings.

Additional police forces have been deployed in these areas for the pursuit operations, Espina added.

A police list of the fatalities are as follows:

1. Bai Farina Mangudadatu

2. Bai Eden Mangudadatu

3. Atty Cynthia Oquindo-Lawyer

4. Atty Connie Brizuela-Lawyer

5. Councilor Rasul Daud

6. Faridah Sabdula

7. Rowena Mangudadatu

8. Ayos Sudlang

9. Abdula Dodong

10. Divina dela Cruz

11. Chito (LNU)

12. Henry Araneta-radio reporter

13. Jimmy Cabello

14. Jonto (TNU)

15. Juanita Dalim

16. Mary Ann Calimbol

17. Ralda Sapalon

18. Pingky Sulaim

19. Rahima Palawan

20. Wahid Sabdula

21. Lilia del Macio

22. Patrika Palapay

23. Victor Munuz

24. Mamot (TNU).