Jihadist “discreetly”used Lapu apartment

CEBU, Philippines - The arrested suspected Australian Jihadist went in and out of his rented apartment in Barangay Pajac, Lapu-Lapu City discreetly, police said.

Lapu-Lapu City Police Office director Senior Supt. Armando Radoc yesterday said it was Robert Edward ”Musa” Cerantonio’s constant Filipina companion, Joan Montayre, who rented the apartment.

According to Radoc, the couple’s neighbors became suspicious after noticing that someone else stayed in the apartment apart from Montayre as the lights and air-conditioning were turned on even if she has left the place.

It was also learned from the apartment’s caretaker that Montayre had been renting the apartment for six days prior to their arrest.

However, Radoc said that there were no other suspicious persons who went to the apartment, thus, investigation showed that there was no possibility that the Australian national had been establishing links with terrorists.

Radoc further said that Cerantonio’s arrest should not be a cause for alarm for the residents and tourists as the police will continue with its intelligence monitoring.

Meanwhile, an estafa case will be filed against Montayre tomorrow.

Montayre, who was still detained as of yesterday at the Police Station 2 of Mandaue City, will be charged with an estafa case after the owner of Lylie Hotel in Barangay Banilad, Mandaue City alleged that the couple failed to pay their bills amounting to P10,000.

Casuntingan police chief, Senior Insp. Philip Silva, said the couple failed to get their belongings back from the hotel, where they checked in from July 1 up to July 10.

The mere fact that the couple did not check out of the hotel means they still have an obligation to pay as their personal belongings were still in the hotel room and they also assured the management to pay once they have pulled out their stuff, said Silva. (FREEMAN)