ABDUCTED AMERICAN VLOGGER IS ALREADY DEAD, WITNESS TELLS PNP

POLICE on Thursday confirmed that kidnapped  American vlogger Elliot Eastman is already dead.

The Police Regional Office 9 reported that based on a witness account, Eastman died from gunshot wounds he suffered while being abducted by a group of armed men in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte last October 17.

“In the course of the investigation, the Critical Incident Management Task Group CIMTG) obtained information from a witness about the untimely death of Eastman on the night of his abduction,” said the officer-in-charge of the PRO9 Public Information Office, Lt. Col.  Ramoncelio W. Sawan.

Sawan said a witness revealed that the American national sustained two gunshot  wounds when the vlogger tried to resist his captors and died on the motorized banca while being transported away from Sibuco.

Upon learning that Eastman died, his captors decided to throw his body overboard.

The official said that despite diligent search operations, the CIMTG has not found the body of  Eastman.

Sawan said that the CIMTG Eastman has already filed criminal complaints for kidnapping and serious illegal detention against four men who snatched  the American vlogger from his in-laws’ house in Bgy.Poblacion, Sibuco municipality.

“There is no let up on our efforts to make the perpetrators accountable for their crimes.  In fact, on November 18, 2024, the CIMTG arrested one of the suspects involved in the abduction.  Two of the four captors of Elliot Eastman remain on the run, but we would like to assure the public that PRO 9 CIMTG Eastman is exhausting all available resources to arrest them,”  Sawan said.

The official also assured the public that the investigation ordered by PRO9 director Brig. Gen. Bowenn Joey M. Masauding will eventually result in the complete resolution of the case, and all perpetrators will be made accountable for the crime

On November 12, three suspects in the kidnapping were killed in an encounter in Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay.

The fatalities were identified as Abdul Sahibad, his brother Fahad, and Mursid Ahod, said to be members of a kidnap group operating in Zamboanga Peninsula.

Masauding said Abdul was among the “persons of interest” in the Eastman kidnapping.