Eastman warned about 'threats' in vlogs before being kidnapped

Abducted American Elliot Eastman talked about possible threats in his previous vlogs before he was kidnapped in Zamboanga Del Norte.

According to a ''24 Oras Weekend'' report by JP Soriano on Saturday, Eastman talked about "not being liked" in their area during his livestream on September 28, 2024.

“I’ve been staying in this area for so long to the point where people don’t really like me anymore. They want bad things to happen to me now… People come here to tell my family that there’s people that want to kidnap me, or they’re threatening to kidnap me,”  Eastman said in the video.

“I don’t really know what would happen if somebody did come here and try to kidnap me. Would the neighbors help me or would they just sit there and watch? Even last night, I’m scared a little bit,” he added.

On October 17, the day of the said incident, Eastman was still able to conduct nine livestreams.

The Philippine National Police Office in Region 9 said that they are including Eastman’s livestreams and a statement from his wife in their investigation, and that they currently have a person of interest under investigation.

“Ongoing profiling on this person of interest po. Ongoing pa po ang investigations natin dito… Lumalabas lang na sa report na four armed men na dumukot sa kanya ay nagsabi is police operation on drugs, pero based sa record natin, wala po tayong naka-record na merong legitimate operation ang any force of the government against this victim. Wala din po siyang record sa atin when it comes to drugs,” said PNP – PRO9 Spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Helen Galvez.

A search was also conducted by a joint Sub-Task Group by the PNP and the Philippine Army within the area where he was allegedly brought.

Meanwhile, Eastman’s family is still waiting for a call from the U.S. Embassy regarding his condition after he was kidnapped by armed men in Barangay Sibuco on Thursday night.

Julie Eastman, Elliot's mother, told GMA Integrated News that no one has contacted them yet.

They also tried to call the U.S. Embassy in Manila, but they could not reach them.

"No one has reached out to me. I called the U.S. Embassy with no luck!! We are all praying," she said.

Eastman, who is from Hinesburg, Vermont, has been living in Zamboanga Del Norte for almost a year after marrying a local resident.

The U.S. State Department has yet to release a statement regarding the incident. 

—Jiselle Anne Casucian with reports from Dave Llavanes Jr./ VAL, GMA Integrated News