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Manila, Philippines — Philippine authorities disclosed on Thursday that they are investigating reports indicating that an American citizen, Elliot Eastman, reportedly succumbed to his injuries after being shot during his abduction in the southern region of the country on October 17. The 26-year-old from Vermont was allegedly struck twice by an M16 rifle as he attempted to fend off four kidnappers who impersonated police officers in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte province, according to police statements.
According to prior reports, the abductors forcibly took Eastman aboard a motorboat and fled the scene.
A large-scale search operation aimed at locating Eastman and his captors has led to several arrests, yet he remains unaccounted for. Last month, three individuals suspected of involvement in the kidnapping were killed in a shootout with police in the area.
Regional police spokesperson Lt. Col. Ramoncelio Sawan shared that investigators received information from a relative of one of the alleged kidnappers, suggesting that Eastman died from gunshot wounds sustained in the thigh and abdomen while attempting to escape his captors. The relative further alleged that the kidnappers disposed of his body at sea following his death.
This claim regarding Eastman’s death was subsequently confirmed by a significant suspect in the kidnapping, who was apprehended not long after, with the individual’s sworn testimony now submitted to prosecutors, as detailed by Sawan. Criminal charges for kidnapping have been lodged against several suspects related to the case.
“At this point, we have reason to believe that he has died based on the information collected,” stated Sawan. However, he mentioned that as they have yet to recover the victim’s remains, “there remains a glimmer of hope that this might not be the case,” and emphasized that the investigation will persist.
Philippine police have communicated the reported death to Eastman’s wife, who is a Filipino citizen, and to the U.S. Embassy in Manila. The embassy acknowledged it is aware of the police report and is working with local authorities, yet opted not to comment further due to privacy issues.
Eastman, who had previously been posting video content about his experiences in Sibuco, returned to the Philippines for his wife’s graduation. Authorities noted that the kidnappers appeared to be common criminals with no ties to Muslim insurgent groups that have historically conducted ransom kidnappings in the region.
The southern Philippines has experienced ongoing security challenges, primarily stemming from a Muslim minority in a predominantly Roman Catholic country. This region, rich in resources, has long struggled with poverty and strife driven by insurgencies and criminal activities.
On his YouTube channel, Eastman expressed his love for the Philippines and spoke of how he met “the love of my life deep in the mountains” of Zamboanga del Norte. He intended to share insights and experiences from his life as the only foreigner residing permanently in the isolated area.
While a peace agreement reached in 2014 between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the largest Muslim separatist faction, significantly reduced violence, issues with smaller armed groups like Abu Sayyaf persist. Historically, Abu Sayyaf has targeted Westerners, including Americans, with many surviving after ransoms were paid. However, there have been fatalities in past kidnappings, including notable cases like that of Guillermo Sobero, who was executed, and U.S. missionary Martin Burnham, who was killed during a rescue attempt in 2002.
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