Person of interest in US vlogger’s abduction sent surrender feelers —PNP

A person of interest in the kidnapping of American vlogger Elliot Eastman in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte has sent "surrender feelers," according to the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday.

“Ito pong person of interest nila na I understand nag-send ng surrender feeler po [This person of interest of theirs, I understand, sent surrender feelers]. That is a good development on this case and hopefully in the coming days, if not today, magkaroon po ng [there will be a] development,” PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing.

Fajardo declined to divulge the person of interest's connection to the American victim and other people in the community.

“As to the identity of this person of interest, ipagpaumanhin niyo muna, hindi ko muna ibigay kung ano ang relationship niya dito sa kidnapping victim o yung iba pa pong mga tao within the community,” she said.

(As to the identity of this person of interest, I hope you will understand if I do not provide his relationship to the kidnapping victim or the other people within the community.)

On October 17, four men abducted 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.

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

Earlier, Fajardo said authorities 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 had 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.)

The local government of Sibuco has offered a P150,000 reward for information on the abduction.

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 as a foreigner he was vulnerable to kidnapping, considering previous incidents in the area.

Eastman, married to a Filipino woman, is said to have been in the Philippines for five months. — BM, GMA Integrated News