Abdullah Maute
Abdullah Maute | |
|---|---|
 Abdullah Maute as depicted in a wanted poster published by the Philippine National Police | |
| Born | |
| Died | August 7, 2017 |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Years active | 2013–2017 |
| Known for | Co-founding the Maute group |
Abdullah Maute (died August 7, 2017) was a Filipino Islamist militant who co-founded, along with his brother Omar Maute, a Dawlah Islamiyah (Islamic state) group in Mindanao, Philippines commonly known as the Wahhabi based Maute group after their surname.[2]
On September 4, 2017, the Philippine military announced that Maute had been killed in an airstrike in August 7, 2017, during the Battle of Marawi. They cited ISIL sympathizers proclaiming his death as an act of martyrdom on the social media platform Telegram. He was referred to as "Sheik Al Miyahad Abu Al Hassan", an alias he was known to have used within the ISIL network.[3] AFP Western Mindanao Command chief Carlito Galvez Jr. confirmed deaths of all seven Maute brothers in December 2017.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Siblings Omar and Abdullah Maute are descended from a Maranao warrior clan based in Butig, Lanao del Sur,[2] the town where they were born and spent their childhood.[4] They were born to Cayamora[5] and Farhana Maute.[6]
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.[2] Abdullah reportedly was educated in Jordan.[7]
Militant activity
[edit]MILF
[edit]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.[8]
Maute group
[edit]The Mautes, according to their relatives, later established connections with Ameril Umbra Kato, the founder of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) since both groups follow Wahhabism. 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.[2] Five other brothers also became involved in the group according to the Philippine military.[9]
Battle of Marawi and death
[edit]On June 10, 2017, during the Marawi crisis, the Philippine Army claimed that the Maute brothers had been killed in a firefight, although details were not available.[10] On September 4, 2017, the military announced that Abdullah was killed in August 7, 2017, in an airstrike. They cited ISIL sympathizers proclaiming his death as an act of martyrdom on the social media platform Telegram. He was referred to as "Sheik Al Miyahad Abu Al Hassan", the name he was known to have used within the ISIL network.[3] In September 2017, the military stated that Omar alone among the seven Maute brothers remained alive, as the other six were killed in battle.[9]
AFP Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. confirmed in December 2017 that all seven Maute brothers had been killed by the Philippine Army.[1]
Personal life
[edit]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.[6] She was arrested on June 9, 2017, in Lanao del Sur. Her husband, Cayamora Maute, was arrested the day before in Davao City.[11] Cayamora Maute died in August 2017 on the way to Taguig-Pateros District Hospital after experiencing difficulty in breathing.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "7 Maute brothers confirmed dead". The Manila Times.
- ^ a b c d Unson, John (May 26, 2017). "Meet the Maute brothers: 2 radicalized OFWs". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- ^ a b Lagsa, Bobby (September 4, 2017). "PH military believes Abdullah Maute is dead". Rappler. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
- ^ Jannaral, Julmunir (April 24, 2017). "Govt clashes with Maute gang displace 532 families". The Manila Times. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
- ^ a b "Father of Maute brothers dies due to health reasons – BJMP". Rappler. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
- ^ a b Fonbuena, Carmela (June 10, 2017). "Who is Farhana Maute?". Rappler. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
- ^ Magoto, Manuel (May 26, 2017). "Little known Maute militants becoming formidable force in the Philippines". Aol. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- ^ Francisco, Katerina (May 24, 2017). "FAST FACTS: What you should know about the Maute Group". Rappler. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
- ^ a b Valente, Catherine (September 8, 2017). "AFP: Only Omar Maute alive, 6 other brothers dead". The Manila Times. TMT. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
- ^ "Military confirming reports Maute brothers killed in firefight". ABS-CBN News. June 10, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
- ^ Brozas, Ricky (June 10, 2017). "Mother of Maute brothers arrested in Lanao del Sur". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 17, 2017.