Philippine police announced on Thursday that they are investigating reports concerning the death of an American man who was allegedly kidnapped in the southern region of the country. According to officials, Elliot Onil Eastman, a 26-year-old from Vermont, was shot twice by kidnappers posing as law enforcement officers during his abduction on October 17 in Sibuco, a coastal town situated in Zamboanga del Norte province.
Reports indicate that Eastman attempted to resist his captors but was shot with an M16 rifle, suffering wounds to his thigh and abdomen. Following the incident, the kidnappers forcibly transported him in a motorboat and fled the scene. Although there has been an extensive search for both Eastman and his abductors, he remains unaccounted for. Authorities have detained several suspects in connection with the case, and three individuals were killed in a confrontation with police last month.
According to Lt. Col. Ramoncelio Sawan, a police spokesperson, a relative of one of the arrested suspects provided information that Eastman may have succumbed to his injuries while being taken away by his kidnappers. This relative divulged that the abductors opted to dispose of Eastman’s body in the sea once he died. The claim regarding Eastman’s death was later verified by another suspect involved in the kidnapping, who recently gave a sworn statement to law enforcement.
Investigators have filed criminal complaints against multiple suspects related to the kidnapping incident. Sawan stated, “We are led to believe that he has died,” stressing that all existing information points in that direction. However, he mentioned that until Eastman’s body is recovered, there remains a glimmer of hope that he may still be alive, and authorities will persist in their investigation.
Philippine police have communicated the situation to Eastman’s Filipino wife, along with officials from the U.S. Embassy based in Manila. The embassy confirmed its awareness of the police report and is currently collaborating with Philippine authorities, though they refrained from further comments due to privacy concerns.
Eastman had recently traveled back to the Philippines to celebrate his wife’s graduation, and during his stay in Sibuco, he had been sharing videos on Facebook that showcased his life in the economically depressed coastal town. Police have reported that the suspects appear to be typical criminals rather than members of the notorious Muslim separatist groups, which have a history of ransom-related kidnappings.
The southern region of the Philippines has long grappled with security issues, primarily due to the presence of a Muslim minority in a predominantly Roman Catholic nation. Although the area is rich in resources, it continues to be plagued by poverty, insurgencies, and criminal activities.
A peace accord signed in 2014 between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the main Muslim separatist group, has notably reduced substantial conflict in the region. Continuous military operations have also diminished the powers of smaller factions like the Abu Sayyaf, leading to a decline in kidnappings and violent acts.
Historically, the Abu Sayyaf has targeted Americans and other foreigners, taking many hostage for ransom, although there have been exceptions where some captives were killed. Among those tragic cases were American Guillermo Sobero, who was beheaded on Basilan Island, and U.S. missionary Martin Burnham, whose attempt to escape during a rescue operation in 2002 ended with his death alongside his wife.
