Police pursue persons of interest

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Police confirmed yesterday it has identified several “persons of interest” in the kidnapping of American Elliot Onil Eastman in Sibuco town in Zamboanga del Norte on Thursday.

Brig. Gen. Bowenn Joey Masauding, Police Regional Office 9 (PRO 9) director, said some persons of interest were named, but that they were still verifying the report “to confirm their involvement and relation to any known threat groups.”

“We are validating leads to ensure we are tracking the right group commander and we can build an airtight case,” Masauding said. “We are working round the clock to locate the whereabouts of the victim and his abductors.”

Eastman, 26, a native of Vermont, is married to a Filipina. He was kidnapped from their house in Sitio Tungawan, Barangay Poblacion in Sibuco town by gunmen who posed as government agents.

Masauding said a Critical Management Task Group (CIMTG) was formed to focus on the investigation, track down the kidnappers and secure Eastman’s safe return. The police also formed the Sub-Task Group Quick Reaction Team to do hot pursuit operations as additional forces are deployed to ensure security in some areas.

All police units in Zamboanga peninsula were also directed to stay alert and conduct checkpoints.

“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.

According to witnesses, the kidnappers shot Eastman two times after forcibly taking him from his house near the beach.

Person Hairin, Eastman’s brother-in-law, said the American was pleading for help while being dragged on the beach by four gunmen, who posed as anti-narcotics agents, around 11 p.m. in Sitio Tungawan, a shoreline village of Barangay Poblacion.

“I was helpless because they (gunmen) pointed their guns at me. His (Eastman) legs were bloodied from gun shot,” Hairin said.

He added that the gunmen initially held him, thinking he was also a foreigner, but was released after he identified himself as a local Muslim.

Barangay Poblacion chairman Merjan Caril said the suspects used a white-colored unmarked jungkong, a motorized boat, which was waiting