ASG supporter killed in Basilan clash

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 18, 2022): ASG supporter killed in Basilan clash (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)

SLAIN SUPPORTER. A supporter of the Abu Sayyaf Group is killed in a firefight with troops at dawn Monday (Jan. 17, 2022) in Barangay Limbocandis, Sumisip, Basilan. The clash ensued while the troops were checking on the reported presence of a person in possession of an improvised explosive device in the village. (Photo courtesy of Westmincom)

Government troops killed an Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) supporter in a brief firefight and recovered an improvised explosive device (IED) from him in Basilan province, military officials said Tuesday.

Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), identified the slain ASG supporter as Ajie Gomez of Sumisip, Basilan.

Rosario said Gomez was killed in a clash with joint military and police forces at dawn Monday in Barangay Limbocandis, Sumisip.

Rosario said the troops were quick to open fire when Gomez resisted and aimed his M16 rifle toward the lawmen, who were checking the reported presence of an individual in possession of an IED in the village.

Recovered from the suspect were an M16 rifle with two magazines loaded with 58 rounds of ammunition, a .38 caliber revolver with six rounds of ammunition, one bandoleer, and an IED.

Rosario said the IED has the following components: motorcycle chain, one bottle of possible 2T motorcycle oil used as an explosive container, ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO), a 9-volt battery, and tripwire.

The cadaver of the suspect was turned over to his family for a decent burial, while the military and police are continuously intensifying security operations in Sumisip, according to Rosario.

“The Joint Task Force (JTF)-Basilan continues to heighten its security operations in areas infested by the terror group and other lawless elements to ensure the safety and security of the Basileños,” he said.

Brig. Gen. Domingo Gobway, commander of Joint Task Force (JTF)-Basilan, said Gomez was a supporter of ASG sub-leader Pasil Bayali alias Kera, whose group is responsible for the series of bomb threats and extortion in Basilan.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1165713