Washington D.C. – Newsweek, December 05, 2024
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.
