Taguig court convicts Maute matriarch for helping finance terrorism

“Farhana” Romato-Maute, the mother of Omarkhayyam and Abdullah, the founders of the notorious Maute Group. Photo taken after her arrest on June 9, 2017. Photo by ARMM-PNP

MANILA CITY, Philippines – A Taguig City court has convicted the matriarch of the Maute family in Marawi City for providing financial and logistics support to the ISIS-inspired Maute Terrorist Group.

In a decision by the Taguig Regional Trial Court dated May 15, 2024, Ominta Romato Maute, who is also known as Farhana, meted the penalty of up to 40 years imprisonment and a fine of P500,000.

The court said Romato Maute was “guilty beyond reasonable doubt” of violating Section 4 of Republic Act 10168, the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.

Court records showed that on July 29, 2016, Ominta allowed her Toyota Innova vehicle to be used by five terrorists, namely, Mohammad Khayam Romato Maute, Omarkhayam Romato Maute, Abdullah Romano Maute, Mahater Romato Maute, and Najib Pundug.

The vehicle was used in abducting and beheading civilians in Lanao del Sur from April 4 to 10, 2016.

The said vehicle was later intercepted by security forces on the same day and several improvised explosive devices were seized though its occupants managed to flee.

Ominta was arrested by security forces in 2017 in the municipality of Masiu, Lanao del Sur, while Omarkhayam and Abdullah were arrested at the height of the Marawi siege in 2017. The other Maute brothers were killed by security forces in 2017.

In its ruling, the court said the prosecution was able to prove the elements of the crime of terrorism financing, namely her “willful intention in providing or making available property and that the property, in full or in part, made available is to be used to carry out or facilitate the commission of any terrorist act by a terrorist organization, association, group or individual terrorist.”

“Evidently, the Toyota Innova was made available to be used to carry out or facilitate the commission of a terrorist attack committed by a terrorist organization, in this case, the Maute Terrorist Group and or ISIS Ranao,” the court said.

“All told, the prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt the guilt of Ominta Romato Maute for the crime of violation of Section 4 of R.A. 10168. Consequently, Ominta shall be meted with the penalty of reclusion temporal of 17 years, four months and one day to reclusion perpetua and to pay a fine of P500, 000,” he added.

READ: Maute gangsters meted 40 years

The court also forfeited the Toyota Innova vehicle in favor of the government. The court also ordered the authorities to destroy the ea Projectile 105mm HE; IED components, two ea batteries of different brand, a handheld radio, improvised blasting cap, a PCB with red and green LED and an arming switch.

The court told the authorities to report compliance with its order.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla hailed the RTC ruling and the DOJ’s Counter-Terrorism Financing Task Force led by Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Peter Ong for “successfully securing the conviction’ of the Maute matriarch, whom he described as a “high-value target and terrorism financier.”

“This conviction exhibits our nation’s unity and resilience to fight the evils lurking in our society. I am very proud of our DOJ family, particularly the Counter-Terrorism Financing Task Force for overcoming the odds and risking their lives to safeguard peace and order,” Remulla said in a statement.