The detained father of brothers Abdullah and Omar Maute, who led the attack on Marawi City, passed away on Sunday, August 27, according to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
BJMP spokesperson and Senior Insp. Xavier Solda said Cayamora Maute, 67, died past 3:00 p.m. in a government hospital after his blood pressure shot up.
“The initial report that we received was that his blood pressure shot up,” Solda said in an interview.
According to Solda, Cayamora was “in critical condition” when he was rushed to Taguig-Pateros District Hospital from Camp Bagong Diwa.
“Our nurse was constantly monitoring his situation and he was brought to the hospital, which is nearby, after his pulse rate dropped,” he added. “I still don’t have his death certificate and so I can’t say if he was declared dead on arrival.”
Solda said that Cayamora’s official cause of death has yet to be declared but noted that the Maute patriarch was already diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension and hepatitis before his detention.
Cayamora was arrested in June 6 in Davao City. Also arrested with him were his second wife Kongan Balawag, daughter Norjanah, and son-in-law Benzarali Tingao; as well as their driver Aljon Ismael, who was later released.
The Maute patriarch’s body was brought back to the BJMP complex “for short viewing of his immediate family.”
In a statement, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said that Cayamora’s death is an unfortunate incident, not only for the Maute family but also for those who were affected with the terrorism in Marawi.
“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,” AFP chief Eduardo Año said.
As of Thursday, August 24, the death toll in Marawi crisis has reached 770—of which 596 were terrorists, 129 were government troopers, and 45 were civilians.
The Maute terrorist group attacked Marawi City on May 23, prompting Duterte to declare Martial Law in the entire Mindanao. The extended military rule is slated to expire by the end of the year.
