ARMED MEN POSING AS COPS ABDUCT AMERICAN VLOGGER IN ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE

ARMED men on Thursday night abducted an American national in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte.

The victim identified as Elliot Onil Eastman of Vermont, USA was kidnapped by at least four armed men in Sitio Tungawan, Bgy. Poblacion in Sibuco municipality around 11 p.m. Thursday.

Police Regional Officde 9 spokesperson Col. Helen Galvez said they got the initial information that the suspects, who introduced themselves as law enforcers, grabbed the victim inside the house of his in-laws.

No group has yet to claim responsibility for the abduction.

PRO9 director Brig. Gen. Bowenn Joey M. Masauding ordered a massive pursuit operation to get the gunmen and rescue the victim unharmed.

According to Galvez, the American national, who is married to a local resident, has been in the country since June this year.

Police  have taken the statement of a local resident who reported that the four suspects, who were wearing black pants and shirts and armed with M-16 automatic rifles, posed as policemen when they carried out the abduction.

The witness claimed that the American vlogger tried to put up a fight and even managed to briefly escape from the kidnappers but was shot in the leg by one of the armed men.

The witness added that the victim was dragged by the kidnappers into a getaway boat , which sped towards the high seas.