MANILA, Philippines ? The Philippine National Police is ?moving heaven and earth? to secure the four survivors of the massacre in Maguindanao, as it orders a stop to retrieval operations following the recovery of 46 bodies.

The PNP is asking the help of the Mangudadatus who have been reported to be keeping the survivors of Monday?s brutal killings that included the wife of Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, his two lawyers, and 13 journalists, said Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina, PNP spokesman.

?We are moving heaven and earth to talk to the witnesses. We are exerting our utmost effort to coordinate with the Mangudadatus and we are requesting testimonies from the survivors who are being protected by the Mangudadatus,? Espina said in an interview.

The more than 40 people, who were ambushed and massacred Monday and buried in shallow graves, were supposed to witness Mangudadatu?s wife file the certificate of candidacy of the vice mayor who would be running for governor in the May 2010 elections.

The PNP also vowed to dismantle private armies in the area, with the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

?Tutuntunin natin ang whereabouts ng [We will try to locate the whereabouts of the] private army,? Espina said, adding that additional forces have been deployed to the province to ?physically control? the area. This means that more police checkpoints have been set up in the province to seize loose firearms and maintain peace and order in the province.

Following the state of emergency declared in the province, Espina said that police were also bracing for possible clashes between warring families in the province.

?The physical control is to anticipate clashes between the two families,? Espina said, referring to the Ampatuans and the Mangudadatus.

Espina, however, denied that there would be a military and police takeover in the province, even with the state of emergency.

During the course of the investigation, Espina said that police would be looking at all angles, including the possible culpability of police officials, including the regional director of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

A first-hand account of a Philippine Daily Inquirer reporter indicated that the victims were denied police escorts by Chief Superintendent Paisal Umpa.

?We will be investigating reporters we have received even on the actions taken by our policemen,? Espina said.