Omar Maute

Omar Maute
Omar Maute as depicted in a wanted poster published by the Philippine National Police
Born	Omarkhayam Romato Maute Butig, Lanao del Sur, Philippines
Died	October 16, 2017 Marawi, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Years active	2013–2017
Known for	co-founding the Maute group

Omarkhayam Romato Maute was a Moro militant 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.

Siblings Omar and Abdullah Maute are descended from a Maranao warrior clan based in Butig, Lanao del Sur, the town where they were born and spent their childhood. They were born to Cayamora and Farhana Maute.

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. Omar was reportedly educated in Egypt.

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.

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. five other brothers also became involved in the group according to the Philippine military.