3 suspects in US vlogger's abduction in police custody — PNP

Three suspects in the kidnapping of an American vlogger in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte are now in police custody, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Wednesday.

"Yesterday, nai-file na po, na-inquest na po 'yung kaso laban sa anim na suspek po na na-identify. Tatlo po doon ay under custody ng PNP," Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo, spokesperson of the PNP, said in a press briefing.

(Yesterday, the case was filed against six identified suspects. Inquest proceedings were held. Three of the suspects are now under the custody of the PNP.)

"This is in relation po doon sa kidnapping ng isang American national. Ang isinampa pong kaso kahapon po ay kidnapping and serious illegal detention po," she added.

(This is in relation to the kidnapping of an American national. The case filed yesterday is for kidnapping and serious illegal detention.)

On Oct. 17, four men abducted Elliot Eastman from his in-laws' house in the coastal town of Sibuco. The American national reportedly resisted but was shot in the leg. He was then brought to a boat that headed for the high seas.

No ransom demand or proof of life has since been received from Eastman's abductors.

One of the three suspects surrendered while the remaining two were arrested by authorities, according to Fajardo. These three suspects have direct participation in the abduction, she added.

Fajardo said the three had previous murder cases while two of them belong to a criminal gang.

The suspects in police custody identified three more persons involved in the crime who are still at large. Fajardo noted that the police are also looking for more John Does who are possible accessories to the abduction.

However, Fajardo said the suspects in police custody did not mention any information on Eastman's location or if he is still alive.

"Lumalabas initially sa atin pong investigation, at least sa investigation ng task group po, kidnapping po talaga ang motibo dito," Fajardo said.

(It appears initially in our investigation, at least in the investigation of the task group, that the motive here is really kidnapping.)

"But until now ay wala pa po tayong nakukuhang information na demand po for ransmon. Sadly, wala pa rin tayong proof life na nakukuha," she added.

(But until now we have not received any information about the demand for ransom. Sadly, we still don't have any proof of life.)

The reward for information that can help locate Eastman is now P500,000.

Aside from local authorities, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been now looking into Eastman's abduction. FBI agents visited Eastman's wife on Oct. 18 and reported to the PNP that his relatives in the US have not yet received any ransom demand.

Eastman, in his previous vlogs, had talked about “not being liked” in their area, saying that “they want bad things to happen” to him, and that people have been informing his family of threats to kidnap him.

According to regional police, authorities had been reminding Eastman that he is vulnerable to kidnapping because he is a foreigner, considering previous incidents in the area.

Eastman, married to a Filipino woman, is said to have been in the Philippines for five months.

The US Embassy has said it continues to work with local authorities in the search for Eastman. It did not provide further details citing privacy and other considerations. — VDV, GMA Integrated News