Elliot Onil Eastman, an American from Vermont, was reportedly kidnapped in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte, after being shot.

Philippine police are searching for the American national, who was allegedly shot in the leg and abducted by a group of men during his visit to the southern part of the country.

The incident occurred Thursday night in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte, a region with a long history of violence and kidnappings in the Philippines.

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The American, reportedly a Vermont native, was the latest victim in a troubling pattern of abductions in the area. “We confirm that there was a report of the alleged abduction of an American national,” authorities said in a statement to CBS, noting that an investigation is underway. “We want to assure the public, particularly the community of Sibuco, that we are doing everything in our power to secure the safe recovery of the victim.”

Armed men posed as police officers

Two reports cited by the Associated Press described a local resident’s account of witnessing four armed men carrying M16 rifles. and dressed in black clothing.

The attackers falsely identified themselves as police officers before confronting the American, later identified as Elliot Eastman, 26. When Eastman resisted, the kidnappers shot him in the leg and dragged him onto a speedboat. They then fled towards the waters surrounding Basilan or Sulu, areas known for insurgent activity. Local authorities have appealed to the public for assistance in the search, hoping to resolve the case swiftly.

American linked to a local woman

While the Philippine authorities have not officially provided details about the victim, a man named Elliot Eastman, who matches the description, had been sharing updates on Facebook and YouTube about his life in the region. He claimed to have married a Muslim woman in Sibuco and had been living in the remote mountainous region of Zamboanga del Norte for about five months. “Based on the initial profile given to us, he [Eastman] got married to a local in the area. He has been there for about five months,” a local officer told Agence France-Presse.

On his YouTube channel, under the name ElliotBeastman, the missing man described himself as the “first and only foreigner” to live in Sibuco for an extended period. His videos depicted daily life in the Philippines, where he had resided for roughly a year and a half.

Ongoing search efforts

Following his reported abduction, local police have intensified their search for Eastman and his suspected kidnappers. The authorities are hopeful that public cooperation will aid in finding the American and ensuring his safe return. The region has long struggled with insurgency and lawlessness, with past incidents of foreign nationals being abducted for ransom. The case has drawn attention to the challenges of ensuring the safety of foreigners living in high-risk areas in the southern Philippines.

FBI agents traveled to Zamboanga del Norte over the weekend to begin investigating the reported kidnapping. Five agents paid a courtesy visit to Sibuco Mayor Joel Ventura on Saturday to get updates, according to Efraem Roldan, media relations officer of Sibuco’s crisis management committee.