The death toll from an attack on a group of journalists and politicians in the lawless southern Philippines has risen to 22 with the recovery of one more body, the military said Tuesday.

The victims were among a group of more than 40 people abducted by gunmen linked to a powerful politician on the southern island of Mindanao on Monday.

"We have recovered 22 bodies," military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Romeo Brawner told AFP. "Most of the bodies bore gunshot wounds."

Brawner said the group had been abducted by gunmen linked to Andal Ampatuan, leader of a powerful political clan in the area, and that the kidnap victims included the wife of his rival, Esmael Mangudadatu.

He said the military was searching for the other people still missing, as well as hunt down the gunmen.