18-10-2024 (MANILA) Philippine authorities have initiated an intensive search operation following reports of the alleged abduction of an American national in the southern coastal town of Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte province. The incident, which occurred on Thursday night, has reignited concerns about security issues that have long plagued the region.
According to police reports, the victim, identified as Elliot Onil Eastman, a 26-year-old from Vermont, was reportedly seized by four armed men claiming to be police officers. Eyewitness accounts suggest that Eastman attempted to resist the abduction, resulting in him being shot in the leg before being forcibly taken away by speedboat.
A local resident, Abdulmali Hamsiran Jala, informed the police that the assailants were clad in black and armed with M16 rifles. The gunmen are said to have fled southwards, possibly towards the provinces of Basilan or Sulu, known hotspots for militant activity.
The regional police issued a statement confirming the reported abduction and reassured the public of their commitment to recovering the victim safely. “We are utilising all available resources to secure Mr. Eastman’s safe return and apprehend those responsible,” a police spokesperson stated.
While authorities have not provided extensive background information on Eastman, social media activity suggests he may have recently married a local Muslim woman in Sibuco. The U.S. Embassy in Manila has yet to comment on the situation.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the enduring security challenges in the southern Philippines, a region that has grappled with insurgency and lawlessness for decades. Despite recent peace agreements and military operations aimed at curbing violence, kidnapping for ransom remains a persistent threat, particularly targeting foreign nationals.
The area has a history of such incidents, with groups like the Abu Sayyaf, designated as a terrorist organisation by both the Philippines and the United States, having carried out numerous kidnappings, bombings, and other violent acts over the past two decades.
