Suspected ASG financer killed in Sulu shootout

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 17, 2021): Suspected ASG financer killed in Sulu shootout (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)

An alleged financer of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and one of the most wanted persons in the country was killed in a shootout early Friday in Sulu.

Col. Rexmel Reyes, Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) director, identified the slain suspect as Aldasir Makumbong, 37.

Also known as Alsimar Mangumah, he was on the list of “national level” top most wanted persons.

Reyes said in a statement that the shootout ensued while joint police and military operatives were on intelligence-driven arrest operation against Makumbong around 2:20 a.m. Friday in Barangay Niog-Niog in Luuk town.

Makumbong was wounded and taken to the hospital where he expired.

Reyes said the troops recovered from the suspect one M-14 rifle with live ammunition and spent shells and some 750 grams of dried marijuana leaves packed in an empty box of juice worth PHP40,000.

Makumbong had a standing warrant of arrest for robbery with homicide dated January 25, 2019 issued here.

He was the primary suspect in the killing of a businesswoman, who was robbed of some PHP8 million worth of jewelry at her pension house in December 2018 along Don Basilio Navarro Road in Barangay San Jose-Cawa-Cawa here.

Makumbong’s income from robbery and illegal drug trade reportedly provided financial and logistical support to the group of ASG Command Addal, who has direct link with the late ASG sub-leader Majan Sahidjuan (alias Apo Mike) and Amlon Abtahi (alias Commander Palo or Ammak).

Reyes said the cadaver was turned over to relatives for Muslim burial rites, conducted in the presence of Luuk Municipal Police Station members.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1153825