Omar Maute

Omarkhayam Romato Maute (June 12, 1980 – October 16, 2017) was a Moro terrorist who co-founded, along with his brother Abdullah Maute, a Dawlah Islamiyah (Islamic state) group in Mindanao, Philippines, commonly known as the Maute group after their surname.[1]

Omar Maute
Image of Omar Maute in a wanted poster published by the Philippine National Police
Birth nameOmarkhayam Romato Maute
Born(1980-06-12)June 12, 1980
Butig, Lanao del Sur, Philippines
DiedOctober 16, 2017(2017-10-16) (aged 37)
Marawi, Philippines
Allegiance Maute group
(2012–2017)
ISIL
(2014–2017)
Battles/warsMoro conflict
Marawi crisis

Early life and education

Omar Maute was born on 12 June 1980. Siblings Omar and Abdullah Maute are descended from a Maranao warrior clan based in Butig, Lanao del Sur,[1] the town where they were born and spent their childhood.[2] They were born to Cayamora[3] and Farhana Maute.[4]

The brothers had worked in the Middle East as Overseas Filipino Workers. While working for secular schools in Syria and the United Arab Emirates, the brothers studied Islamic theology.[1] Omar was reportedly educated in Egypt.[5]

Militant activity

MILF

Philippine military sources state that the siblings' father, Cayamora Maute, was a senior official of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). After the MILF began to engage in peace negotiations with the Philippine government, the brothers criticized the MILF leadership and pledged allegiance to ISIS.[6]

Maute group

The Mautes, according to their relatives, later established connections with Ameril Umbra Kato, the founder of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). The siblings reportedly sent representatives to Kato after the BIFF leader suffered a hypertensive stroke which rendered the left portion of his body paralyzed. After forging ties with Kato, the Mautes established the Maute group.[1] five other brothers also became involved in the group according to the Philippine military.[7]

A February 2016 report stated that the relatives of Omar confirmed that he had been killed during the February 2016 Butig clash, along with a younger brother named Matti.[8] However this report would be disproved a few months later.

Battle of Marawi

In May 2017, video footage found on a cellphone captured by Philippine government troops during the Battle of Marawi indicated that Omar was still alive at that time.[9]

On 10 June 2017, during the Marawi crisis, the Philippine Army claimed that they were confident that the Maute duo had been killed in a firefight, although the details were not provided.[10] This report was later disproved. In September 2017, the military stated that Omar alone among the seven Maute brothers remained alive, as the other six were killed in battle.[7]

Omar Maute was killed on October 16, 2017, along with Isnilon Hapilon.[11][12][13]

Personal life

Omar Maute was said to be fluent in the Indonesian language,[6] and was married to the daughter of a conservative Indonesian Islamic cleric. The Maute siblings include a third brother named Hashim who was detained in the Marawi City jail until 2016 when he successfully escaped.[5]

His mother, Ominta Romato Maute, also known as Farhana Maute, has been described by some sources as the financier of the Maute group's activities, providing logistics and recruiting fighters.[4] She was arrested on June 9, 2017 in Lanao del Sur. Her husband, Cayamora Maute, was arrested the day before in Davao City.[14] Cayamora Maute died in August 2017 on the way to Taguig-Pateros District Hospital after experiencing difficulty in breathing.[3]

References
  1. Unson, John (26 May 2017). "Meet the Maute brothers: 2 radicalized OFWs". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  2. Jannaral, Julmunir (24 April 2017). "Govt clashes with Maute gang displace 532 families". The Manila Times. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  3. Sitchon, John Tan (27 August 2017). "Father of Maute brothers dies due to health reasons – BJMP". Rappler. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  4. Fonbuena, Carmela (10 June 2017). "Who is Farhana Maute?". Rappler. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  5. Magoto, Manuel (26 May 2017). "Little known Maute militants becoming formidable force in the Philippines". Aol. Verizon Media. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  6. Francisco, Katerina (24 May 2017). "FAST FACTS: What you should know about the Maute Group". Rappler. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  7. Valente, Catherine (8 September 2017). "AFP: Only Omar Maute alive, 6 other brothers dead". The Manila Times. TMT. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  8. "Rebel leader, 2 brothers killed in Lanao clashes". ABS-CBN News. 28 February 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  9. Gomez, Jim; Pittman, Todd (7 June 2017). "AP Exclusive: Video shows militants in Philippine siege plot". Associated Press. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  10. "Military confirming reports Maute brothers killed in firefight". ABS-CBN News. June 10, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  11. "'Terrorists will crumble': Military kills Isnilon Hapilon, Omar Maute". CNN Philippines. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  12. "Philippine troops kill two militant leaders allied to IS group". France 24. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  13. News, ABS-CBN. "Terrorists Isnilon Hapilon, Omar Maute killed in Marawi battle". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  14. Brozas, Ricky (10 June 2017). "Mother of Maute brothers arrested in Lanao del Sur". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.