The Philippines: Tightening the Net on the Maute Group
| Publisher | Jamestown Foundation |
| Author | Alexander Sehmer |
| Publication Date | 14 July 2017 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 14 |
| Cite as | Jamestown Foundation, The Philippines: Tightening the Net on the Maute Group, 14 July 2017, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 14, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/596c91e74.html [accessed 4 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Link to original story on Jamestown website
The Philippines' military has bombarded the city of Marawi in southern Mindanao for more than two months in an attempt to stamp out militants from the Maute Group. While this has been met with little success, their efforts may have been given a boost by the arrest of one of the group's main financiers.
Security forces raided a house in Barangay Macasandig, a village not far from Marawi, on July 5, arresting three people and seizing grenades and bomb-making equipment (Inquirer, July 5). One of the three arrested was identified as Monaliza Solaiman Romato, known as Monay, who reportedly acted as a "spy" for the group, but is also said to be heavily involved with the group's logistics and financing (Philippine Star, July 6). Another key figure in the group's finances, Irene Romato Idris, who was renting the house where the three were arrested, remains at large.
The Maute clan is supposedly matriarchal, and Idris and Monay have apparently taken over the purse strings from Ominta "Farhana" Romato, the mother of Abdullah and Omar Maute who instigated the fighting in Marawi (SunStar, July 5; see Militant Leadership Monitor, July 4, 2017). Both Idris and Monay are thought to be related to Farhana — Monay is her niece, while Idris is described by officials as a "distant relative" (PNA, July 5).
The net has slowly been closing in around the Mautes. Farhana was captured in June as she tried to flee Masiu, Lanao del Sur, in the back of a Toyota Revo with seven other women (SunStar, June 10). Just a few days earlier, Cayamora Maute, the Maute's father, was arrested in Sirawan, Davao City, picked up at a checkpoint travelling with his second wife. Apparently ill and flashing a peace sign at journalists as he was led away, he appears to have been less integral to his children's operation (Inquirer, June 11).
The fighting in Marawi appears to be abating, but the place has been a war zone since May 23, when Philippine security forces tracked Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon to the city and attempted to capture him, clashing with the Maute's followers and Abu Sayyaf fighters. President Rodrigo Duterte imposed martial law across southern Mindanao and bombing raids have reduced parts of Marawi to rubble. More than 460 people have been killed, including scores of civilians, and about 300,000 people have fled their homes (al-Jazeera, July 4). The siege is now virtually over, but Hapilon and the Maute brothers all appear to have escaped.
Officials have talked up the recent arrests, and it may be that the capture of Maute family members can provide some leverage — Abdullah Maute reportedly entertained the idea of swapping a kidnapped Catholic priest in return for the release of his parents and relatives (Inquirer, June 27). But with the Marawi assault at an end and the brothers still at large, it is more likely their group, which has links to both Jemaah Islamiyah and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and has pledged allegiance to IS, will simply continue its campaign elsewhere.
