MANILA, Philippines – Three relatives of Cavite City Mayor Strike Bautista and Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and two others were killed Sunday night in a shootout in a public market in Imus, Cavite reportedly over a traffic altercation, police said yesterday.
Cavite police chief Superintendent Ulysses Cruz identified the three slain kin of the two officials as Raul Bautista and his sons Raffy Bautista and Richie Allen Bautista.
Two others, identified as Mahmod Sultan and Sowaib Salie, also died in the clash.
Cruz said Sultan and Raffy died on the spot while Salie, Raul and Richie Allen were pronounced dead on arrival at the Pilar Medical Center.
Another person, Michael Salanguit, remained in critical condition.
Police said the incident occurred at around 9:45 p.m. inside the Bautista Ice Plant at Imus Public Market.
Cruz said Sultan and Raul had a heated argument over traffic inside the market but some cooler heads pacified them.
A few minutes later, Sultan and Salie again approached and confronted Raul but were again pacified by concerned individuals in the area.
Later, Bautista’s group went back and shot Sultan, but the latter retaliated hitting the father and his two sons.
Cruz said the Bautistas owned an ice plant in the town while Sultan operated a cellular phone and DVD store.
Investigators recovered at the crime scene 40 empty shells of 9mm caliber and a 9mm Bereta with serial number D77491, and a magazine loaded with 13 ammunitions. – With Arnell Ozaeta, Mike Frialde