(UPDATE) 6 dead in Cavite shootout

By Arnell Ozaeta, ABS-CBN Southern Tagalog | 06/22/2009 3:54 PM

LAGUNA - Six people were killed when a gunfight, prompted by a traffic-related argument, erupted at a public market in Imus, Cavite at about 9:30 p.m. on Sunday evening.

Superintendent Ulysses Cruz, Imus police chief, identified the victims as Raul Bautista, 68 and his sons Richie Allen Bautista, 36, and Raffy Bautista, 33, as well as their driver Michael Salanguit, 41, all residents of Barangay Palico, Imus, Cavite.

Also killed were Sowaib Salie, 68 and his son Mahmod Sultan alias "Macky", both residents of Barangay Bayan Luma in Imus, Cavite.

Cruz said the Bautistas owned an ice plant at the public market, while Sultan operated a cellphone and DVD store.

Police reports said the Bautistas were unloading chunks of ice along the road near the Imus Public Market at about 9 p.m. when Salie and his son Sowaib, onboard a vehicle, honked their car's horn impatiently at the Bautistas.

Annoyed by the honking, Raul reportedly confronted Salie. Eyewitnesses said the argument heated up fast after the two parties threatened to kill each other.

At around 9:30 pm, the Bautistas and their driver returned to the public market armed with short firearms and started shooting at Sultan and Salie, who were also armed.

After a few minutes of the gunfight, the dead bodies of the Bautistas and the Sultans were seen strewn around the market. Salangui, meanwhile, was reported injured but died a few hours later while being treated at the Our Lady of Pillar Hospital for multiple gunshot wounds.

Authorities recovered 40 empty shells from a caliber 9mm, and a Beretta handgun (with serial number D77491) carrying a magazine loaded with 13 bullets. Police are investigating reports that the two families had a long-standing feud, which may have prompted the violent encounter.

The victims' families, meanwhile, could not be reached for comment.

ABS-CBN News Online Beta