Law enforcement in the Philippines launched a search for the American after an unnamed suspect reportedly shot him in the knee by a group of militants and kidnapped him.
The alleged theft incident occurred last Thursday evening in Sibuco, a coastal town in Zamboanga del Norte province, according to The Associated Press. Police officers have identified the U. S. nationwide as 26-year-old Elliot Onil Eastman, who is from Vermont.
Regional police authorities confirmed that an alleged abduction of an American national was reported in a speech obtained by The Associated Press. We want to reassure the people that we are doing everything in our power to ensure the victim’s healthy recovery, especially the Sibuco community.
According to two officers information obtained by The Associated Press, Sibuco native Abdulmali Hamsiran Jala, told local law enforcement that four men in black, who had introduced themselves as officers soldiers and were carrying M16 rifle, had abducted the American nationwide.
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Eastman attempted to escape from the four people, but one of the men shot him in the foot and dragged him onto a boat, according to the private citizen. The group of men appeared to be heading toward Basilan or Sulu, according to the tenant.
The Associated Press obtained police reports that indicated officers made an attempt to track down the group of men, but they were unable to locate either the defendants or Eastman.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed to Fox News on Monday that it was conscious of the alleged abduction event in the Philippines and that it was working with the US State Department and other federal authorities.
Eastman and his family Karisha Jala Eastman, who he met last year while visiting the country, have resided in the Philippines since May. Elliot Onil Eastman, according to the store, briefly returned to the United States after marrying his partner before relocating to the Philippines earlier this year.
” Based on the initial page given to us, he got married to a nearby in the area”, Lieutenant-Colonel Helen Galvez, a police director, told Agence France-Presse. ” He has been there for about five month”.