Authorities confirm death of American vlogger abducted in Zamboanga

National

THE American vlogger who was kidnapped in Zamboanga del Norte has died on the night of his abduction, authorities confirmed.

Lt. Col. Ramoncelio Sawan, information officer of the Police Regional Office 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), said Elliot Onil Eastman was shot twice by his abductors when he struggled while he was being transported by a motorbanca from Barangay Poblacion, Sibuco on October 17.

“In the course of the investigation, the Critical Incident Management Task Group (CIMTG) ‘Eastman’ obtained information from a witness about the untimely death of Eastman on the night of his abduction,” Sawan said, per a Philippine News Agency (PNA) report.

Eastman was reportedly abducted by four men who pretended to be law enforcers in front of his residence in Sitio Tungawan, Barangay Poblacion.

After over a month, police authorities confirmed that the American vlogger was killed on the night when he was kidnapped. The captors threw the victim’s body into the sea.

The body of Eastman is still nowhere to be found despite efforts of CIMTG to look for his remains.

On October 29, CIMTG ‘Eastman’ filed complaints of kidnapping and serious illegal detention against the four perpetrators before the Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Prosecutor’s Office

One of the suspects was arrested on November 18, and another one voluntarily surrendered. Two other culprits remained at large.

Sawan said efforts to look for those who are responsible for the death of the foreigner are ongoing.

Authorities have informed Eastman’s family about the development and are also coordinating with the stakeholders from the US Embassy.

Eastman, 26, was from Vermont, USA, and settled in Sibuco after marrying his Muslim wife.(LAO)