FBI joins search for kidnapped American

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is joining in the search for an American who was kidnapped in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte by suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf bandit group.

The agents arrived in Sibuco over the weekend to look into the case of Elliot Onil Eastman, who was seized by unidentified men in Barangay Poblacion last Thursday.

In a meeting with Sibuco Mayor Joel Ventura, the FBI agents said the family of the victim in the US have not received any call or demands from the kidnappers.

Ventura refused to disclose details of the meeting. He and barangay chairman Merjan Caril accompanied the agents to the house of Karisa Hairin, the Filipina wife of Eastman, and her family to find out if the kidnappers have contacted them and made any demand.

Eastman, 26, of Vermont in the US, was seized from their house in Sitio Tungawan by four men who posed as police anti-narcotics agents. The kidnappers shot Eastman in the leg before dragging him to a waiting motorized banca.

In a statement, Ventura said he assured the FBI agents that the local government is coordinating with law enforcement agencies and maximizing its resources for the swift resolution of the case.

Meanwhile, the police and military have reportedly focused the search for Eastman in Basilan following intelligence reports about the possible involvement of Abu Sayyaf in the kidnapping.

Lt. Col. Helen Galvez, spokesperson for the Zamboanga peninsula police, said there has been no proof of life of the victim yet since the kidnapping.

Galvez confirmed that Basilan was included in the search for Eastman, but similar operations in Zamboanga peninsula would continue.

PNP downplays FBI role

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has clarified that the FBI is not actively involved in the investigation of the Eastman kidnapping.

PNP public information officer Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo made the clarification yesterday in response to reports that the FBI has joined the search for Eastman.

Fajardo said the FBI only sought updates from the police and the local government unit about the case through the US embassy’s legal attachés.

“They just took notes with respect to the updates of the case, but they are not involved in the investigation,” Fajardo said.

She said police border control points have been activated in Zamboanga peninsula to intercept the men who seized Eastman.

Fajardo said there was no indication that Eastman and his captors have left for Basilan or Sulu, the bailiwicks of the Abu Sayyaf.

She said probers have identified two persons of interest in the kidnapping and have yet to determine if these people are connected to the Abu Sayyaf or other lawless group. — Emmanuel Tupas