6 charged for kidnap of American citizen

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines —  Police have filed charges against six suspects tagged in the kidnapping of an American national in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte.

Three of the suspects are in the custody of the police while a manhunt has been launched for the rest, according to Brig. Gen. Bowenn Joey Masauding, Zamboanga peninsula police director.

Masauding, who heads the Critical Management Task Group Eastman, said charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention were filed against the suspects on Tuesday before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Sindangan town.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said the suspects in  the custody of the police directly participated in the kidnapping of Elliot Onil Eastman, who was seized in Barangay Poblacion on Oct. 17.

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said some of the suspects are said to be members of the Norjan Sandag criminal group based in Zamboanga del Norte.

Fajardo said the suspects did not say if Eastman is still alive.

Lt. Col. Helen Galvez, spokesperson for the Zamboanga peninsula police, said two of the suspects surrendered on Sunday and identified their companions.

The surrender resulted in the arrest of another suspect in Sibuco on Monday.

Galvez said the suspects who surrendered reportedly acted as point men in the kidnapping of Eastman.

Probers withheld the identities of the suspects. They said they have yet to persuade the suspects to reveal the motive for the kidnapping.

Galvez said the surrender, arrest and identification of the suspects were a result of what she described as a “very intensified” investigation involving several law enforcement agencies, including the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, National Bureau of Investigation and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.

“All forces are involved here, including the use of technology, to track down the kidnappers and the victim,” Galvez said.

She said the US Federal Bureau of Investigation is not involved in the operation to rescue Eastman.

Galvez said based on intelligence profiling, the suspects are not linked to any organized kidnap group. She said they are plain criminals operating in the towns of Sibuco, Siocon, Sirawai and Baliguian.

“We are optimistic we can rescue the victim because there are a lot of developments in the case, although we cannot disclose them yet as investigation is ongoing,” Galvez said.

It has been 13 days since the kidnapping, but no contact or demand for ransom has been received from the kidnappers.

“Maybe, they cannot find an opportunity to do that because of the relentless police operation against them,” Galvez said, referring to the kidnappers.