Rappler
No proof of life: Authorities stumped in search for abducted American
Authorities have no proof of life for American national Elliot Onil Eastman, who was abducted from Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte on October 17.
Eastman was shot in the leg after resisting his captors before being forced into a boat.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has found no direct evidence linking the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) to the abduction.
PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo noted that the ASG has been significantly weakened and largely eradicated in Zamboanga and Sulu.
Authorities are monitoring coastal areas and have activated border control measures within Zamboanga del Norte.
The location of Eastman and the suspects is not yet confirmed, with initial suspicions that they were heading towards Basilan or the Sulu archipelago.
Regional authorities are also conducting backtracking and operational research on two persons of interest.
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News Sources
See how different news organizations are covering this story. Below are the original articles from various Philippine news sources that contributed to this summary.
American national Elliot Eastman, a 26-year-old YouTube vlogger, was abducted by an armed group on October 17, 2024, in Sibuco town, Zamboanga del Norte.
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Philippine police have intensified border control in Zamboanga Peninsula and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to prevent the escape of an American vlogger's abductors.
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A person of interest in the kidnapping of American vlogger Elliot Eastman has sent surrender feelers to authorities, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
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