3 people linked to American’s abduction in Zamboanga killed

MANILA — Three individuals linked to the abduction of an American national in Zamboanga del Norte were killed in a clash with soldiers, according to authorities. 

According to the Philippine Army, the firefight with 10 “lawless elements” in Barangay Canacan, Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay, early Tuesday morning resulted in the deaths of Mursid Ahod and brothers Abdul and Fahad Sahibad.

PLtCol. Helen Galvez, spokesperson for the Zamboanga Peninsula police, said Abdul was allegedly among the group that abducted Vermont native Elliot Onin Eastman, 26. The other two, Ahod and Fahad, allegedly provided support and facilitated the escape of the abductors.

“Si Abdul, originally siya ‘yong pinaka person of interest natin, kasama ho sa pagdukot kay Mr. Eastman. Itong dalawa, si Ahod at saka si Fajad ay ito ’yong mga tumulong ho sa kanila. Persons of interest sila kasi sila ‘yong mga accessories po, tumulong po sa pag-facilitate or pagtakas ng grupo ng abductors,” Galvez said in a telephone interview on Wednesday. 

(Abdul was originally our main person of interest, as he was involved in the kidnapping of Mr. Eastman. The other two, Ahod and Fahad, helped them. They are persons of interest because they are considered accessories to the crime, assisting in the facilitation or escape of the abductor group.)

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Ahod was listed as the seventh most wanted person at the regional level for murder.

He was implicated in several grave offenses, including kidnapping for ransom, extortion, and theft. He was also suspected of involvement in the Kabasalan Massacres in 2015 and 2016.

The three individuals killed in the operation were considered persons of interest. They are separate from the eight previously identified by police as suspects with cases filed before the prosecutor’s office. Three of the eight suspects are in police custody, while five are still at large.

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Authorities have yet to obtain proof of life for Eastman. He was not with the persons of interest when the clash occurred.

“Wala ho tayong proof of life. Wala din tayong mga bakas na iniwan na nandoon nga si si Mr. Eastman sa area kung asan ang operation na ‘yan, pero meron po tayong mga intelligence lead na ‘yong grupo ay talagang maaring nandiyan pa or dumaan diyan sa area na ‘yan at patuloy yung hot pursuit operation natin,” Galvez said. 

(We have no proof of life at the moment. We also have no evidence suggesting that Mr. Eastman was in the area of the operation, but we have intelligence leads indicating that the group may still be in or passed through that area. Our hot pursuit operation continues.)

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“The brigade will not stop until we eliminate these lawless elements responsible for different criminalities in the Zamboanga Peninsula,” BGen. Elmer Suderio, commander of the 102nd Infantry (Igsoon) Brigade, said in a statement. 

Eastman, who had been living in the country for five months after marrying a local woman, was abducted from his in-laws' house in the coastal town of Sibuco on October 17. His abductors shot him in the leg before taking him aboard a pump boat.

“We acknowledge the challenges kasi sugatan ho ang ating biktima at medyo matagal na ho, more than 20 days ang nangyari but since wala tayong proof of life, hindi natin siya nakita anywhere, we are hopeful na lumalaban pa siya this time,” Galvez said.

(We acknowledge the challenges, as the victim was injured and it has been more than 20 days since the incident. However, since we have no proof of life and have not seen him anywhere, we remain hopeful that he is still alive and fighting.)