Authorities eye persons of interest in US citizen abduction

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Authorities are keeping a close watch on certain persons of interest believed to be behind the abduction of a 26-year-old American citizen in Zamboanga del Norte province.

“We are validating leads to ensure we are tracking the right group to build an airtight case against them,” Brig. Gen. Bowenn Joey Masauding, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula (PRO-9) director, said in a statement Sunday.

The PRO-9 had already activated the Critical Incident Management Task Group (CIMTG) to focus on the investigation and swift resolution of the Oct. 17 abduction of Elliot Onil Eastman in Barangay Poblacion, Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte.

READ: Men posing as ‘law enforcers’ abduct American in Zamboanga del Norte

Joint intelligence operations with the Armed Forces of the Philippines are also underway.

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Masauding, concurrent CMTG head, said the Anti-Kidnapping Group-Mindanao Field Unit is coordinating with the victim’s family.

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There is no contact or demands from the abductors “as of this time.”

He added that the Sub-Task Group Quick Reaction Team is continuously conducting pursuit operations while all police units in the region were directed to conduct checkpoints.

READ: An American was reportedly kidnapped from a southern Philippine town

“The safety of the victim remains the top priority and all available resources are being mobilized to resolve the situation swiftly and effectively,” Masauding said.

Police reports said four gun-toting suspects, posing as law enforcement officers, forcibly entered Eastman’s residence at 11 p.m.

Vermont resisted and was shot in the leg before he was transported using a motorboat.

Originally of Vermont state in the United States (US), he has been living in Barangay Poblacion for five months after marrying a resident.

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