Still no proof of life for abducted American vlogger in Zamboanga del Norte —police

Authorities have yet to monitor proof of life for the kidnapped American national in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte, according to the Police Regional Office 9 (PRO-9) on Monday.

PRO-9 spokesperson Police Colonel Helen Galvez said the abductors of 26-year-old vlogger Elliot Eastman have yet to make contact with authorities in the Philippines and the United States.

“Ongoing pa po yung tracking efforts na ginagawa and investigation (The tracking efforts and investigation are still ongoing),” Galvez told Dobol B TV in an interview.

"Wala pa po tayong proof of life atsaka wala pang contact from the abductors. Both dito sa Philippines at saka sa US, wala pang natatanggap na ganung communication,” she added.

(We still have no proof of life and no contact from the abductors. Both here in the Philippines and also in the US, no such communication has been received yet.)

The police are now looking into some persons of interest as authorities were able to talk to some witnesses in Eastman’s kidnapping, according to Galvez.

Persons of interest

At a press briefing, PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said that they are looking into two persons of interest and verifying if they are connected to any groups.

“Doon sa mga nakausap na witnesses, one of the suspects ay apparently wala naman pong takip sa mukha at nakita po doon na sinasabing inaayos diumano yung isang bangka doon,” Fajardo said.

(According to the witnesses, one of the suspects apparently did not have his face covered and was seen allegedly preparing a boat there.)

“May mga composite sketch na po tayo. Noong ipinakita po itong picture po na ito even doon sa rogues gallery natin ay na-identify po ng mga witness,” she added.

(We already have composite sketches. When this picture was shown even in our rogues gallery, witnesses identified one of the suspects.)

According to Fajardo, the police believe that the victim is still in the area as there is no indication that the perpetrators arrived at a different place via boat.

FBI

Aside from the local authorities, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is now looking into the abduction.

FBI agents on Friday visited Eastman’s wife and reported to the Philippine National Police (PNP) that Eastman’s relatives in the US have not yet received any ransom demand.

On October 17, four men abducted Eastman from his in-laws' house in Sibuco. The American national reportedly resisted but was shot in the leg and brought to a boat that headed for the high seas.

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 Galvez, 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 Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police are working together to capture the perpetrators.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy said it continues to work with local authorities in the search for Eastman. 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," the Embassy said in a statement. 

"The Department of State has no higher priority than the welfare and safety of US citizens abroad," it added. —KBK/RSJ, GMA Integrated News