Philippine Immigration officers escort Robert Edward Cerantonio (C), an Australian convert to Islam who used the internet to urge people to join “jihad” in Iraq and Syria, shortly after arriving at Manila airport on July 11, 2014, after he was arrested in Cebu City. AFP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–The 29-year-old Australian national suspected to be a jihad preacher was deported back to his country Tuesday night.
Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison, in a text message, said Robert Edward Cerantonio boarded Philippine Airlines flight PR 209 bound for Melbourne around 10 p.m. Tuesday.
Cerantonio was accompanied in the flight by four escorts from the Bureau of Immigration (BI), Mison said.
The fugitive was arrested in an apartment in Lapu-Lapu City on Mactan Island in Cebu last July 11.
In a previous interview, Mison said Cerantonio’s arrest was based on a warrant of deportation for violation of immigration laws
“Cerantonino was charged for being undocumented and for being an undesirable alien,” Mison said, adding that the Australian police informed Philippine immigration officials of the cancellation of Cerantonio’s passport last July 7.
The Australian Ministry for Foreign Affairs canceled the suspect’s passport after Australian police intelligence authorities identified him as the one sending messages to suspected terrorists calling for extremism, the BI said.
Reports say Cerantonio used the Philippines as his safe haven, using the Internet to urge people to undertake extremist activities. These acts violate anti-terrorism laws especially of Australia and the Philippines.
During his arrest, Cerantonio was with a Filipina identified as Joan Montayre, who was also arrested for estafa.
Cerantonio was a native of Melbourne, Australia, and an Islam convert, authorities said.
Cerantonio, a Christian who converted to Islam, is allegedly using his website and social media accounts to promote terrorism and urge Muslims to join the jihad in Syria and Iraq, police said.