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American Kidnap Victim in the Philippines Reportedly Killed
Manila, Philippines (AP) — Authorities are investigating the possible death of Elliot Onil Eastman, a 26-year-old American from Vermont, who was reportedly shot during a kidnapping in the southern Philippines on October 17. Police allege that Eastman was attacked by four kidnappers posing as police officers while on the coastal town of Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte.
Eastman attempted to resist his abductors but was shot with an M16 rifle. Following the incident, he was forcibly taken to a motorboat and has been missing since. A large-scale search conducted by Philippine police led to the arrest of several suspects and the deaths of three others during a firefight with law enforcement.
Recent developments indicate that a relative of one of the apprehended suspects stated that Eastman died from his injuries, and his body was disposed of in the sea. This claim was further corroborated by additional sources linked to the case. Despite this information, police spokesperson Lt. Col. Ramoncelio Sawan emphasized that without recovery of Eastman’s body, there remains a "little bit of hope" that he may still be alive.
Federal authorities in the United States, along with Eastman’s Filipino wife, have been notified of the situation. The U.S. Embassy in Manila acknowledged the reports but refrained from commenting beyond coordination with Philippine officials.
Eastman’s trip to the Philippines was to attend his wife’s graduation; he had recently been sharing videos of his life in Sibuco on social media. The region has a tumultuous history with kidnappings, often linked to criminal and insurgent groups, though authorities believe Eastman’s captors did not belong to any known organizations.
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Photo credit www.boston.com
