MANILA - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a national day of mourning on Wednesday as she said she is "appalled and outraged" by the slaughter of innocent civilians in Maguindanao.

"The gruesome killings in Maguindanao constitute a most heinous crime. What makes it particularly so is the fact that it counts among its victims, lawyers, media reporters and other defenseless and innocent civilians. Like many others, I am appalled and outraged by it, and I join the rising chorus of indignation against it," President Arroyo said In a statement read by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.

"The perpetrators will not escape justice. The law will haunt them until they are caught," she said.

Mrs. Arroyo has instructed the secretaries of the Department of Interior and Local Government and Department of Justice to fly to Maguindanao and directly lead the immediate resolution of the case.

"Let the full force of the law bear upon those who are found to be responsible for this offense and be made accountable for their acts,” said Arroyo in the statement.

Arroyo said that the killings was not a "simple election feud between opposing clans; this is a supreme act of inhumanity that is a blight on our nation."

"I am declaring a national day of mourning in honor of the victims. This crime is too outrageous not to prick the conscience of this nation. or any other nation for that matter. Let us hope that the outrage is overcome by reason and by our need to live our lives in peace, honor and human dignity," said Arroyo in her statement.

Arroyo however urged for sobriety.

"I understand only too well the volatility of the political situation in the area, and for this reason, I reiterate with even greater urgency my personal appeal for calm and restraint," she said.

"In all this, the rule of law. the guarantee of equal protection under and equal application of the law, and the observance of due process and all legal processes, shall prevail. Let the full force of the law bear upon those who are found to be responsible for this offense and be made accountable for their acts," she said concluding her statement.

Police have yet to issue any arrest orders as authorities said that they are reportedly fully investigating the incident.

Police on Wednesday named a political ally of President Arroyo as the prime suspect in the massacre.

"According to the initial reports, those who were abducted and murdered at Saniag were initially stopped by a group led by the mayor of Datu Unsay," National Police spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said.

The mayor of Datu Unsay is Andal Ampatuan Jr., a member of Arroyo's ruling Lakas Kampi CMD coalition and son of Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., who is an extremely powerful regional politician who has ensured local support for the president in previous elections.

"Feels bad"

Ermita said "masama ang loob ng presidente (the President feels bad)" that she has asked that a second statement be issued to express her sense of outrage.

President Arroyo, in her first statement on Monday, ordered the military and police to immediately pursue the perpetrators of the gruesome massacre in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao province related to the May 2010 elections.

Arroyo has also directed Defense Norberto Gonzales, and Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno to order the police and the military to "conduct immediate and relentless pursuit of the perpetrators, to secure the affected areas.”

Two days after the massacre, however, police have yet to file charges against the suspects.

Police have yet to issue any arrest orders as authorities said that they are fully investigating the incident.

Police on Wednesday named a political ally of President Arroyo as the prime suspect in the massacre.

"According to the initial reports, those who were abducted and murdered at Saniag were initially stopped by a group led by the mayor of Datu Unsay," National Police spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said.

The mayor of Datu Unsay is Andal Ampatuan Jr., a member of Arroyo's ruling Lakas Kampi CMD coalition and son of Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., who is an extremely powerful regional politician who has ensured local support for the president in previous elections.

52 bodies recovered so far

Six bodies have been dug out from two burial sites in Ampatuan town on Wednesday bringing the death toll to 52.

The fatalities include the wife and relatives of Buluan town Vice-Mayor Ismael Mangudadatu, a gubernatorial aspirant in Maguindanao province, as well as bodies of journalists and lawyers.

Mangudadatu had said he believes the abduction was politically motivated.

He said that before his wife was killed, she told him that a group of at least 100 gunmen led by Ampatuan Jr. stopped their convoy.

The convoy was on its way to Sharif Aguak, where Mangudadatu’s wife was supposed to file a certificate of candidacy for governor on his behalf.

Mangudadatu said among those included in the convoy were lawyers and members of media, who were supposed to cover the filing of COC.

State of emergency

Arroyo on Tuesday placed under a state of emergency the provinces of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City to "prevent and suppress the occurrence of several other incidents of lawless violence".

Presidential Adviser on Mindanao Affairs Jesus Dureza, head of a crisis management committee tasked to oversee military and police operations in the emergency areas, said the warring clans have assured him that they will fully cooperate with the police’s investigation.

"We will apply the full force of the law regardless of who is there on the other end. As far as the Palace is concerned, we have to apply the law here," he said. With a report from Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News