Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) Spokesman Justice Undersecretary Ricardo R. Blancaflor praised the decision of the Court of Appeals to extend for another four months the freeze order on the bank account and assets of a suspected terrorist.

“This is favorable news for all of us. This is necessary pending the completion of the investigation on Ahmed Santos, the suspected terrorist behind many bombing attacks”, Blancaflor said.

The CA has extended for another four months the freeze order on the assets and several bank accounts of Ahmed Santos, the founder of the terrorist group Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM). The Court’s Special Second Division, in a 5-page resolution penned by Associate Justice Teresita Dy-Liacco, granted the petition of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to extend the freeze order on Santos’ assets in order to prevent their disposal pending the completion of the investigation the AMLC is conducting for the possible filing of a civil forfeiture case against Santos.

The original freeze order issued by the appellate court expired on September 26, 2008. With the ruling, the freeze order on Santos' assets was extended until January 25, 2009.

The AMLC is a member of the Anti-Terrorism Council.

“The ATC also notes the splendid work of the AMLC who have been very diligent in pursuing the cases against the terrorists”, Blancaflor remarked.

Among the assets of Santos that were frozen were those located at No. 50 Purdue Street corner Ermin Garcia in Cubao, Quezon City and a 25-hectare property in Anda, Pangasinan. Likewise, a BPI Family Savings Bank account, under the name of Ricardo Ayeras, was also frozen.

The RSM is the alleged perpetrator of the Super Ferry 14 bombing in 2004 that killed 116 persons, and the Valentine’s Day Bombing in 2005 that killed 4 and injured 97 others. The RSM was also implicated in the alleged plot to blow up the US Embassy in Manila, the kidnapping of 21 foreigners in Sidapan, Malaysia and the foiled Lenten holiday bombing in Malate in 2006.

Santos founded the RSM, otherwise known as “Balik-Islam Movement”, a radical group of Muslim converts. He used to be an OFW working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in the 1990s. He converted to Islam, underwent bomb-making training, and recruited other OFWs to join the RSM.