Maute-ISIS personalities: Who’s who?

It began exactly a year ago when the ISIS-inspired Maute group laid siege in Marawi City. It was one of the fiercest battles the military had overcome after five months of continuous firefight. But who are the leaders behind the militant group who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State?

The Maute brothers, Omarkhayam Romato and Abdullah, led the militant group named after them which had attacked the besieged city of Marawi, claiming about over 1,000 lives, mostly militants and displacing also thousands of residents.

Omarkhayama and Abdullah grew up in Marawi, then studied in Egypt and Jordan, where they became fluent in Arabic. In 2011, Omarkhayam settled back in Mindanao.

READ: The Maute brothers: Southeast Asia's Islamist 'time bomb'

The battle of Marawi ensued after the military launched an operation against Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon following information from residents that the anointed emir of the Islamic State in Southeast Asia was holed up with the Maute group members in an apartment in the area.

From L-R: Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, Omarkhayam Maute, Abdullah Maute, and Abu Dar.

Days before the end of the siege in October 2017, Hapilon and Omar were revealed to have been killed in a "final assault" which was launched by selected members of the Army's Scout Ranger Regiment and several special forces.

The other Maute brothers—Abdullah, Madi and Otto—have also been earlier killed in the clashes.

With the deaths of the prominent terror leaders, a new leader has emerged identified by the military as Owayda Benito Marohonsar alias Abu Dar. He managed to flee Marawi allegedly with millions of pesos in loot.

Colonel Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of  Joint Task Force Ranao, said that Abu Dar was among the 10 personalities who were seen in a video plotting their attack in Marawi City.

Brawner said all of the five Maute members, who were involved in the Marawi siege, have died and it was only Abu Dar who managed to escape. The military has so far monitored his movements in Lake Lanao.

"Hinahanap pa natin si Abu Dar. Kasama siya doon sa grupo na nagplano nu'ng Marawi siege. Among [sa] 10 na nakita doon sa planning video nila, siya na lang ang buhay. So ngayon nagre-recruit pa rin sila around Lake Lanao so they still pose a threat," Brawner said in a phone interview.

The parents of the Maute brothers, who were reported to be in charge of finance and logistics, have been arrested during the crisis. Cayamora, the Maute patriarch, died in August last year while his wife, Farhana, remains in police custody. —KG, GMA News