“Terror ties” suspected: Aussie jihadist arrested

CEBU, Philippines - Police and Immigration personnel arrested an undocumented foreigner who is also a jihadist preacher with suspected ties to terror groups yesterday morning in Lapu-Lapu City. He was deported later in the afternoon.

The arrest came following reports of a terror threat in some areas in Mindanao a few weeks ago.

Robert Edward Cerantonio, 28, alias “Musa” was arrested with his Filipina companion whom police identified as Joan Montayre, in a rented apartment in barangay Pajac, Lapu-Lapu City.

Chief Superintendent Prudencio “Tom” Bañas clarified that they found no evidences linking Cerantonio to terrorist activities during his arrest.

“There was no evidence linking him any terror act,” Bañas told reporters.

Before the operation coordination was made with the Australian Federal Police and the raiding team composed of the elite forces of PRO-7’s Special Weapons and Tactics team of the cities of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu operatives of Regional Intelligence Division, Regional Intelligence Unit and other police units.

It was the Australian government that requested for Cerantonio’s arrest. The arrest was based on the warrant of deportation issued by Bureau of Immigration and Deportation officials in Manila for violation of immigration laws.  Cerantonio did not put up any resistance when taken in.

Cerantonio was the subject of surveillance since a few weeks ago, said Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa who led the operation.

“We monitored him 24/7,” Capa added.

Since there was no evidence linking him to any terrorist act, Bañas said Cerantonio will only be deported. Bañas said Cerontonio was considered as undocumented alien and is subject to summary procedure and only deportation can be imposed against him.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, Capa confirmed that Cerantonio had been deported.

Background

Cerontonio is a Muslim convert and native of Melbourne, Australia. He was born on January 28, 1985.

He was born to an Italian father and Irish mother and was a former Catholic who repotedly renounced his Australian citizenship and has been living in the Philippines since 2013, based on his post on Twitter account.

According to the website www.dailymail.co.uk, Cerantonio is an Australian Muslim extremist who uses social media to call on Muslims to go to Syria and Iraq to fight together with the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS).

ISIS is a jihadist group active in Iraq and Syria which was formed in April 2013 and grew out of al-Qaeda in Iraq. It has since been disavowed by al-Qaeda, but is now one of the main jihadist groups fighting government forces in Syria and is making military gains in Iraq.

One in four foreign fighters allegedly follow Cerantonio’s Twitter account and his Facebook page is the third-most ‘liked’ page among jihadists.

Cerantonio also claimed being the third most ‘liked’ extremist preacher on Facebook and also joked and boasted on his Facebook page that the Federal Government looking for him.   He has announced that he had traveled to Syria to join the jihad.  —/BRP (FREEMAN)