Persons of interest in US vlogger Eastman’s kidnap identified

Some persons of interest in the abduction of a Mindanao-based American vlogger have been identified, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday.

According to Maki Pulido’s report on 24 Oras, the PNP looking into whether the abduction of Elliot Eastman, 26, could be linked to local terrorist groups like the Abu Sayyaf or the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. 

“May mga composite artist sketch na po tayo nung pinakita itong picture na po ito…we have the alias so far,” said PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo. 

(We already have the composite artist sketch…we have the alias so far.) 

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

But the PNP believes that the suspects are still within the vicinity of Zamboanga del Norte, saying that there is no indication that they have brought the victim to Sulu or Basilan. 

It added that Eastman’s family has yet to receive any request for ransom. 

“Normally sa mga kidnapping case involving yung sinasabi nating grupo, hindi naman nila sinasaktan initially yung kanilang mga kini-kidnap. But this time sinaktan agad nung makita at nung nag-resist ang biktima, sinaktan kaagad and  in fact, binaril nga siya. So these are the things na kino-consider,” said Fajardo. 

(Normally, in kidnapping cases involving those groups, they don’t immediately hurt the victims. But in this case, the kidnappers instantly hurt the victim when he resisted, and in fact they shot him. So these are the things we are considering.) 

The regional police also have other persons of interests as it looks into another angle

“Aside from the four [armed men] na pumasok, may mga nahanap tayong witnesses doon, although hindi pa natin talaga nako-connect kung anong grupo ito. And mayroon pa rin tayong persons of interest sa ibang anggulo na nakikita natin,” said Police Regional Office-9 spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Helen Galvez. 

(Aside from the four armed men who broke into the house, we also found some witnesses. But we have yet to connect them to whatever group they could be part of. We also have persons of interest, but we are looking into another angle.) 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation sent representatives to the province to meet with the victim's family, but reportedly will not be active in the investigation. Instead, it will ask for updates from their legal attache. 

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. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BM, GMA Integrated News