US vlogger abducted in Zamboanga del Norte, FBI investigates

Updated Mon, October 21, 2024 at 9:53 AM Published Fri, October 18, 2024 at 10:17 AM

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.

The victim sustained a leg wound when he resisted his abductors, who then transported him via motorboat.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrived in Zamboanga del Norte and is actively investigating the incident, interviewing Eastman's wife and local officials.

Local authorities are exploring the possibility that Eastman's abduction may be linked to his marriage to a local woman and a prior relationship she had.

Eastman had previously expressed security concerns in a YouTube video titled "Living in the Philippines most dangerous area as an American."

The US government is cooperating with Philippine authorities, and the US Embassy emphasizes the safety of its citizens abroad as a top priority.

The town of Sibuco condemned the abduction as a "cowardly attack on a defenseless man" and stated that such acts are unacceptable.

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