ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Police Regional Office-9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) Critical Incident Management Task Group (CIMTG) has confirmed the arrest of three suspects and identification of three more personalities allegedly involved in the abduction of US national Elliot Eastman two weeks ago.
EASTMAN
The CIMTG also said that police have filed criminal complaints against the six principal suspects before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Sindangan town, Zamboanga del Norte province for kidnapping and serious illegal detention on Tuesday, Oct. 29.
Police have also filed similar cases against other unidentified personalities as accessories to the crime.
The suspects were arrested by the task group in close coordination with the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), National Bureau of Investigation-Western Mindanao Regional Office, the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command, and the Philippine Coast Guard.
Police are continuing manhunt operations to arrest other personalities identified as participants in the crime.
The PRO-9 thanked local government units and stakeholders for helping in the arrest of the suspects.
“We encourage everyone to report to your nearest police station any information about Elliot Eastman and his captors. Do it for the sake of the kidnapped victim. Do it for the future of Zamboanga Peninsula,” the CIMTG said.
The reward for the safe recovery of Eastman has reached P500,000.
Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Adrian Amatong has offered an additional P350,000 for the safe return of Eastman.
It is on top of the initial P100,000 offered by Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte Mayor Joel Ventura and another P50,000 for information that will lead to the recovery of the boat used by the kidnappers.
Gov. Jim Salliman had said there is no indication that Eastman is in Basilan.
Eastman was abducted by armed men inside his residence in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte on Oct. 17.