Philippine police announced Wednesday that they have arrested three suspects linked to the Oct. 17 kidnapping of American citizen Elliot Onil Eastman in Sibuco, a town in Zamboanga del Norte province.
Eastman, who was reportedly shot in the leg during his abduction, is believed to be alive, police say.
The arrests began with two suspects surrendering separately, leading police to a third arrest in Sibuco.
Law enforcement has identified three additional suspects, who are believed to be holding Eastman, and authorities indicate that more individuals could be implicated. Criminal charges related to abduction were filed against the six suspects on Tuesday.
“We believe he is alive, so our operations are ongoing,” said Lt. Col. Helen Galvez, a regional police spokesperson. She confirmed that the search efforts remain focused until Eastman’s location is confirmed.
A police officer checks an area Friday Oct. 18, 2024, where an American identified as Elliot Onil Eastman, from Vermont, was reportedly abducted by gunmen in Sibuco town, Zamboanga del Norte province, southern Philippines. On Wednesday, Philippine police said they have arrested three suspects in the kidnapping of the American.
Philippine National Police/AP Photo
Criminal Group Connections
Lt. Col. Galvez explained that police have launched a house-to-house search in an undisclosed area, adding that the suspects are believed to be part of a criminal group, rather than affiliated with armed Muslim rebel factions that have historically carried out ransom kidnappings in the southern Philippines.
According to initial police reports, the kidnappers, armed with M16 rifles, posed as police officers during the abduction.
When Eastman tried to escape, he was shot in the leg, then forced onto a motorboat by his abductors. Investigators found M16 shell casings and bloodstains in the area, where Eastman had been living for five months before his kidnapping.
Kidnap Victim’s Profile
Eastman, a Vermont native, had recently returned to the Philippines for his wife’s graduation. He had been residing in the coastal town of Sibuco and sharing videos of his life there on social media, which may have attracted the suspects’ attention. “He was confident. He was the only foreigner there,” Galvez noted, while emphasizing that this kidnapping is considered an isolated incident in the relatively stable area.
Nevertheless, the incident underscores ongoing security concerns in the southern Philippines, a region marked by persistent poverty and occasional violence, particularly within the Muslim minority community.
Background on Regional Insurgencies
Southern Philippines, despite its resource wealth, has long struggled with poverty and sporadic violence involving insurgents and outlaws. A 2014 peace accord between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front has reduced widespread conflict.
However, smaller groups, including the notorious Abu Sayyaf, continue to operate. The Abu Sayyaf group, known for targeting Americans and Western tourists, has orchestrated multiple ransom kidnappings over the years.
Some hostages held in this part of the Philippines, such as American Guillermo Sobero, have been killed by their captors. However others, including U.S. missionary Martin Burnham, lost their lives during military rescue attempts.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
