PNP: Child of principal suspect shared account on US vlogger’s abduction

The child of the principal suspect shared to authorities how the perpetrators kidnapped American vlogger Elliot Eastman in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday.

“Yung anak po ng isa sa mga principal suspect has provided information as to allegedly what transpired from the time Eastman was abducted from their house until the time he was transported using a motorized vehicle,” PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said at a press briefing.

(The child of one of the principal suspects has provided information as to allegedly what transpired from the time Eastman was abducted from their house until the time he was transported using a motorized vehicle.)

“However, this is still subject to validation kasi lumalabas ay kinuwento lamang po sa kanya nung isa doon sa mga principal suspect po. So ongoing po yung validation to confirm the revelation,” she added.

(However, this is still subject to validation because it appears that the information was only told to the child by one of the principal suspects. So the validation is ongoing to confirm the revelation.)

Among the information provided by the principal suspect’s child was the boat has been repainted with a different color to avoid authorities from tracking the suspects.

Fajardo refused to divulge more information on the identity of the suspect’s child. The concerned principal suspect is still at large, she said.

Kidnapping and serious illegal detention complaints have been filed against six suspects. Three of the suspects are in police custody.

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.

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

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.

The reward for information that can help locate Eastman is now P500,000. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News