Police pursue persons of interest

In kidnapping of US citizen

- ROEL PAREÑO

Police confirmed yesterday it has identified several "persons of interest" in the kidnapping of American Elliot Onil Eastman in Sibuco town in Zamboanga del Norte on Thursday.

Brig. Gen. Bowenn Joey Masauding, Police Regional Office 9 (PRO 9) director, said some persons of interest were named, but that they were still verifying the report "to confirm their involvement and relation to any known threat groups."

"We are validating leads to ensure we are tracking the right group commander and we can build an airtight case," Masauding said. "We are working round the clock to locate the whereabouts of the victim and his abductors."

Eastman, 26, a native of Vermont, is married to a Filipina. He was kidnapped from their house in Sitio Tungawan, Barangay Poblacion in Sibuco town by gunmen who posed as government agents.