FBI looking into American vlogger Eastman’s abduction in Zamboanga del Norte

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is now looking into the abduction of American vlogger Elliot Eastman, who was reported to have been taken by four men who introduced themselves as law enforcers in Zamboanga Del Norte.

According to the Police Regional Office 9 (PRO-9), FBI agents made a visit to Eastman’s wife on Friday, October 18, 2024, as reported on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

The FBI was also reported to have told the Philippine National Police that Eastman’s relatives in the US have not received any ransom demand so far.

For its part, the United States Embassy said it continues to work with local authorities in the search for Eastman, as it said it is monitoring the situation. It did not provide further details citing privacy and other considerations.

“When a US citizen is missing, we work closely with local authorities as they carry out their search efforts, and we make every effort to keep lines of communication open with families,” it said in a statement.

“The Department of State has no higher priority than the welfare and safety of US citizens abroad,” it added.

The PRO-9 earlier reported that four men abducted Eastman from his in-laws' house in the municipality of Sibuco around 11 p.m. on October 17. He was said to have resisted, but was shot in the leg and brought to a boat which headed for the high seas.

Eastman in his previous vlogs 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.

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

For its part, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police are working together to catch the culprits. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA Integrated News