Philippine authorities are investigating reports that American Elliot Onil Eastman, 26, from Vermont, died after being shot while resisting kidnappers on Oct. 17.
Eastman was allegedly shot twice with an M16 rifle by kidnappers posing as police officers in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte province.
Police said the assailants dragged Eastman to a motorboat and sped away. Despite a large-scale search operation, Eastman remains missing.
Authorities arrested multiple suspects, with three killed in a gunfight last month. Investigators continue to search for additional leads to resolve the case.
Lt. Col. Ramoncelio Sawan, a regional police spokesperson, stated that a suspect’s relative claimed Eastman succumbed to gunshot wounds during the abduction. Allegedly, the kidnappers discarded his body at sea after his death.
This account was corroborated by another arrested suspect, whose sworn statement has been filed with government prosecutors.
Elliot Eastman/Facebook
Is There Hope He’s Alive?
Although there is evidence pointing to Eastman’s death, Sawan emphasized that police remain hopeful until a body is recovered. “We’re still leaving a little bit of hope,” he said. Police continue their search and investigation while exploring other possibilities.
Eastman’s Filipino wife and the U.S. Embassy in Manila have been informed of his presumed death. The embassy confirmed it is coordinating with authorities but declined further comment citing privacy concerns.
Who Were the Suspects?
Eastman’s abduction appears to have been carried out by common criminals rather than members of organized rebel groups known to operate in the region. Police believe the suspects targeted Eastman after seeing his Facebook videos documenting life in Sibuco, where he returned to attend his wife’s graduation.
While the region has a history of kidnappings by armed groups, authorities dismissed links to Muslim insurgents or ransom-seeking militants in this case.
Philippine National Police/AP Photo
What’s the Broader Context?
The southern Philippines, rich in resources but plagued by poverty and violence, has long been a hotspot for kidnappings. Despite peace efforts, including a 2014 agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, smaller groups such as the extremist militant group Abu Sayyaf continue sporadic criminal activities, including targeting Westerners, often for ransom.
Some victims of kidnappings in the region, including Americans Guillermo Sobero and Martin Burnham, were killed. Sobero was beheaded in Basilan, while Burnham died during a rescue operation near Sibuco in 2002.
The police remain committed to solving Eastman’s case, but his presumed death underscores persistent security challenges in the region, even as military efforts have weakened insurgent groups. Authorities stress the need for heightened vigilance in volatile areas.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
