Philippine police: U.S. citizen kidnapped for ransom shot to death

October 18, 2024

A U.S. citizen aged 26 from the state of Vermont was kidnapped by the four kidnappers. This incident happened in Sibuco town in Zamboanga del Norte province of the southern part of the Philippines. According to reports, the kidnappers posed as police officers. The apparent purpose of kidnapping was the ransom. Vermont was shot dead, possibly with a rifle, in a try to flee while fighting with kidnappers.

According to police officials, they are in the verification process of the reports that abducted Vermonter Elliot Onil Eastman, 26; was shot twice with a gun in resistance to kidnappers to flee on Oct 17 in the southern Philippines.

Although the dead body of the abducted U.S. citizen has yet to be found, according to earlier reports, it is said that the kidnappers dragged his body in a boat to throw it into the sea. This information was retrieved by police from a relative of one of the suspects. The information about the death of the abducted U.S. citizen was further confirmed by one of the key suspects, recently arrested by the police. His statement has been taken and submitted to prosecution for further legal action.

The victim was married to a Filipino girl. He used to post videos of his life on social media in Sibuco town, a small, poor coastal town in the southern Philippines. Probably he was highlighted from the videos by the kidnappers for the ransom. Before his kidnapping, he had traveled out and then came back to the Philippines to attend the graduation ceremony of his wife.

The investigation officer mentioned that they were to believe in the death of the victim according to the statement of the suspect. He further said that they will continue the investigation as the body of the victim is still not found. The death news of Eastman has been conveyed to his wife as well as the U.S. Embassy based in Manila. The

The kidnappers appeared to be common criminals who did not belong to any rebel group and had been accused of kidnapping for ransom in the past. The police are determined to take serious action against them. The security issues have always been a concern for the government in the southern Philippines.