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Maute group

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Maute group
Leader
Foundation2012
Dates of operation2013 (2013)–
CountryPhilippines
Active regionsMindanao
IdeologySalafi jihadism
Notable attacks
Sizeunknown
Means of revenueProtection rackets
Flag

The Maute group ([mɐʔutɪ] or [mɐʔute̞]), also known as the Islamic State of Lanao,[2] is a radical Islamist group composed of former Moro Islamic Liberation Front guerrillas and some foreign fighters[3] led by Abdullah Maute, the alleged founder of a Dawlah Islamiya, or Islamic state based in Lanao del Sur, Mindanao, Philippines.[4] The group was involved in a clash with Philippine Army troops in February 2016 that led to the capture of their headquarters in Butig, Lanao del Sur.[5][6] There were reports that Omar Maute, Abdullah's brother, was killed in that clash.[7] There are also reports to the contrary, claiming that he escaped before the camp was overrun and is still alive;[8] video footage found on a cellphone captured by Philippine government troops during the Marawi crisis indicates this to be true.[9] Since then the group, which a Philippine Army brigade commander characterized as terrorist,[10] has been conducting a protection racket in the remote settlements of Butig.[4]

Background

The group, originally known as Dawlah Islamiya,[11] was founded in 2012 by brothers Abdullah and Omar Maute, who were described by a source as "petty criminals" at the time.[12] However, other sources have described the Maute family as wealthy and politically-connected. The matriarch, Ominta Romato Maute, also known as Farhana Maute, owns property in Mindanao and Manila, and runs a construction business. She is related to politicians in Butig, Lanao del Sur and is considered influential.[13] She has been described as the financier of the Maute group's activities, providing logistics and recruiting fighters.[14]

Butig, the headquarters of the Maute group, is also a stronghold of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and both groups are tied by blood or marriage. Brothers Omar and Abdullah Maute are first cousins of Azisa Romato, the wife of the late MILF Vice Chairman for Military Affairs Alim Abdul Aziz Mimbantas, who is buried in Butig. The Maute brothers themselves were once members of the MILF.[15]

Declaration of allegiance to Islamic State

The group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in April 2015, along with the Ansar Khalifa Philippines terrorist organization, vowing to provide support for each other.[12] However, according to former National Security Council senior consultant Ashley Acedillo, there are no indications that ISIS ever acknowledged the Maute group's pledge.[16]

Although some reports indicate that the Maute group is regularly seen carrying black flags bearing the insignia of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria,[4] Butig town mayor Ibrahim Macadato has stated that the group is not affiliated with ISIS, but are merely armed residents.[17] However, training manuals and other documents for militants under the Islamic State were recovered from their captured camp, indicating that the group may be trying to link up with ISIS.[18]

A regional security expert in October 2016 stated that the Maute group was sophisticated in its use of social media and was able to attract students and teachers from the Mindanao State University in Marawi.[19]

Philippine Army sources state that their initial encounter with the Maute group involved a firefight in 2013 when the insurgents attacked a security checkpoint the government troops were manning in Madalum, Lanao del Sur. The group is thought to have over 100 members and were supplied with equipment by a foreign terrorist.[10] They are said to be affiliated with Jemaah Islamiya,[5] a Southeast Asian Islamist terrorist group.

As ISIS suffers setbacks in Syria and Iraq, experts warn that hundreds of fighters from Indonesia and Malaysia will return to look for new opportunities to take the fight elsewhere, and the Maute group's pledge of loyalty to ISIS could serve as an incentive to join ranks with the organization.[20] Since at least 2016, reports on jihadist activities in the Philippines and of Filipino fighters with ISIS indicate an increasing degree of coordination, cooperation, and cohesion between Southeast Asian jihadist militants and the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.[21]

CNN has reported that two officers from the Philippine National Police has defected and joined up with the group.[22]

Activities

The Maute group is said to be actively recruiting minors for service as child warriors[23] and using the non-passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law as propaganda.[10] In April 2016, they abducted six sawmill workers from Butig,[24] two of whom were later found beheaded.[4] The group is also suspected of being behind a failed bomb plot in close proximity to the US embassy in Manila in November 2016.[25]

Davao City bombing

Main article: 2016 Davao City bombing

On October 4, 2016, three men linked to the Maute group were arrested in connection with the 2016 Davao City bombing. The men were TJ Tagadaya Macabalang, Wendel Apostol Facturan, and Musali Mustapha. Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that the Maute group had established links with the Abu Sayyaf and that there are "indications" that the group is aligning themselves with ISIS.[26] On November 28, the Philippine government finally officially acknowledged that Maute is linked to ISIS in a live televised comment by President Rodrigo Duterte.[27]

Battle of Marawi

Main article: Battle of Marawi

On May 23, 2017, the Maute group attacked the city of Marawi in the Philippines. The attack resulted in the destruction of homes, the deaths and wounding of soldiers, policemen, and civilians, the torching of a mosque, and a hospital being overrun. The former leader of Abu Sayyaf, Isnilon Hapilon was seen with the group during the attack. The attack resulted in President Duterte declaring a state of martial law across the entire island of Mindanao with the possibility that it be expanded nationwide.[28][29]

Omar Maute was killed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines on October 16, 2017 along with former Abu Sayyaf chief Isnilon Hapilon.[30]

References

  1. ^ Franco, Joseph. "Mindanao after the Philippines presidential elections". Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  2. ^ "Maute Group / Islamic State of Lanao / Daulat Ul Islamiya / Daulah Islamiyah". Terrorism Research and Tracking Consortium. Retrieved April 28, 2017. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ Espina-Varona, Inday (March 10, 2016). "Alphabet of terror in Philippines' political boiling pot". Catholic News Asia. Retrieved May 27, 2016. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ a b c d Unson, John (April 13, 2016). "Maute group beheads 2 captive sawmill workers". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  5. ^ a b Ho, Alex (February 26, 2016). "AFP overruns extremists' camp in Lanao, 45 killed since fighting erupted". CNN Philippines. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  6. ^ Maitem, Jeoffrey (March 1, 2016). "Army regains control of Lanao Sur town, drives away ISIS-inspired group". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  7. ^ Gallardo, Froilan (March 24, 2016). "Army chief: Maute group is no ISIS". Mindanews. Retrieved May 27, 2016. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ Macabalang, Ali G. (March 7, 2016). "Maute brothers still alive". Tempo. Retrieved May 27, 2016. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ Gomez, Jim; Pittman, Todd (June 7, 2017). "AP Exclusive: Video shows militants in Philippine siege plot". Associated Press. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  10. ^ a b c Ansis, JC (March 3, 2016). "Butig clashes: What we know so far". CNN Philippines. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  11. ^ Unson, John. "How Maute group came to be". philstar.com. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  12. ^ a b "Maute Group / Islamic State of Lanao / Daulat Ul Islamiya / Daulah Islamiyah". Trac. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  13. ^ Gopalakrishnan, Raju; Mogato, Manuel (June 23, 2017). "The Mautes of the Philippines: from monied family to Islamic State". Reuters. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  14. ^ Fonbuena, Carmela (June 10, 2017). "Who is Farhana Maute?". Rappler. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  15. ^ Zambrano, Chiara (March 3, 2016). "The ties that bind MILF and Maute group". ABS-CBN. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  16. ^ News, Trishia Billiones, ABS-CBN. "Maute group not accredited by terror group ISIS, says analyst". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved June 2, 2017. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ "Relief goods needed as aerial bombing continues in Lanao del Sur town". CNN Philippines. February 25, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  18. ^ Pareño, Roel (March 10, 2016). "IS training manuals found at militants' camp". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  19. ^ "Little-known Maute militants becoming formidable force in Philippines". The Japan Times Online. May 25, 2017. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  20. ^ Head, Jonathan (May 31, 2017). "Maute rebel group: A rising threat to Philippines". BBC News. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  21. ^ "Signs of a Nascent Islamic State Province in the Philippines". War on the Rocks. May 25, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  22. ^ http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2017/08/05/pnp-police-officer-maute-member.html
  23. ^ Ermac, Bonita (March 2, 2016). "Child Warriors Told They'd go to Heaven". Mindanao Gold Star Daily. Retrieved May 27, 2016. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  24. ^ Pareño, Roel (April 5, 2016). "Maute group abducts 6 sawmill workers in Lanao del Sur town". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  25. ^ "Little-known Maute militants becoming formidable force in Philippines". Reuters. May 24, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  26. ^ Tan, Kimberly Jane. "'Maute Group' men arrested over Davao City blast". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  27. ^ Hader Glang (November 29, 2016). "Philippines officially recognizes Daesh role in south". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  28. ^ Gomez, Jim (May 23, 2017). "Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Declares Martial Rule in Southern Part of Country". Time. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  29. ^ Gomez, Jim; Cerojano, Teresa (May 24, 2017). "ISIS-Linked Militants Behead Police Chief in Philippines". The Times. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  30. ^ News, ABS-CBN. "Terrorists Isnilon Hapilon, Omar Maute killed in Marawi battle". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved October 16, 2017. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)

Template:History of the Moro conflict

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