In brief
Elliot Onil Eastman, an American residing in the Philippines, was shot and abducted by armed men in a coastal town, sparking a significant police manhunt.
Elliot Onil Eastman, 26, originally from Vermont, was forcibly taken from his home in Sibuco, Mindanao, late on Thursday night. According to local police, four men, disguised as law enforcement officials, invaded Eastman’s house around midnight. They attempted to apprehend him, but he managed to escape momentarily; however, he was shot in the leg before being captured. The suspects subsequently transported him on a white boat into open waters. Law enforcement agencies immediately initiated a “hot pursuit operation” to locate the kidnappers, but as of Friday, authorities had not confirmed the identities of the assailants. The kidnapping was reported by Eastman’s father-in-law, AbdulMali Hamsiran Jala, who expressed concern over the safety of foreign nationals in the region.Eastman had been living in the Philippines since May, after first visiting the country a year prior to meet his wife, Karisha Jala Eastman. They married in July 2023, following which he returned to the U.S. for work before settling back in the Philippines this year. He was known to document his experiences in Sibuco through videos on a YouTube channel, celebrating his unique position as the area’s first and only long-term foreign resident, although he often highlighted the potential dangers associated with that lifestyle.Local authorities continue to search for Eastman and track down the kidnappers, urging the public for any relevant information that may assist them in their investigation.
