An American man, Elliot Onil Eastman, was kidnapped in Sibuco town, Philippines on October 17th, and shot in the leg during the abduction. Three suspects have been arrested, with three others still at large. Police believe Eastman is still alive and are conducting search operations to locate him. The suspects were part of a criminal group, not armed Muslim rebel groups commonly involved in ransom kidnappings in the region.
Eastman was living in Sibuco for five months before the kidnapping and had been posting videos on Facebook. The incident serves as a reminder of security issues in the southern Philippines, where poverty and insurgency are prevalent. However, a peace agreement in 2014 has reduced fighting, particularly with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and military operations have weakened groups like Abu Sayyaf, known for kidnappings and attacks on foreigners.
In the past, American and other Western tourists and missionaries have been targeted by Abu Sayyaf, with some being killed and others released after ransom payments. Notable cases include the beheading of American Guillermo Sobero in Basilan and the death of U.S. missionary Martin Burnham during a rescue operation in 2002. The kidnapping of Eastman is a rare incident in a region that has seen a decrease in violence in recent years.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com