Death of Maute patriarch ‘unfortunate’ – AFP chief

Maute group patriarch Cayamora Maute, 67, is escorted by police after his arrest in Davao City on June 6, 2017. ARJOY M. CENIZA

The death of the patriarch of the Maute clan was an unfortunate incident not only to his family but to victims of terrorism in Marawi, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said.

“We have yet to receive a formal report that Mr. Cayamora Maute died today. We only learned it from the media,” a statement from AFP chief Eduardo Año said late Sunday night.

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology said Cayamora Maute died past 3 p.m. in a government hospital on Sunday after his blood pressure shot up.

The Maute patriarch was detained at Camp Bagong Diwa after he was arrested on June 6 in Davao City. His sons Omarkhayam and Abdullah led the ongoing gunbattle in Marawi City, which has left hundreds killed and thousands displaced.

“This is an unfortunate incident for his family, but more so to the victims of terrorism in Marawi and their relatives who are awaiting justice and expecting that Mr. Cayamora would answer/ atone for his involvement in Marawi rebellion,” Año said.

In a television interview with CNN Philippines, AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said the death of Cayamora may entice the Maute brothers to be “more brazen, much bolder” as all facts may not be clear to them and may trigger them to take a more drastic action in the ongoing gun battle.

“We expect that that the interpretation of the family would still be disadvantageous to the government because at any time they will always expect the government did something here,” he said.

The Maute brothers may also use the death of their father as a propaganda tool and use it as a rally point for their fighters and their other family members who are still within the main battle zone. CBB/JE