American Kidnapped in Philippines - Any updates

[DELTAFOXTROT 64]

Does anyone have any updates or know the young man that was recently kidnapped in Mindanao Region? Reports are it was an inside job and not ABU Sayaff or other Muslim factions in the area. I heard they put him on a boat I hope he didn't end up in the Julu Solo area.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rVhgQPug9k

 

Edited November 5 by DELTAFOXTROT

[top_secret 2,457]

He was certainly in an area where common sense would dictate that he should not have been in, and he was maintaining a very high profile there.  I don't want to blame the victim and nothing justifies what happened but he showed stunningly poor judgment.  I wish him well but the fact that no ransom or any other demands have been made so far does not bode well for his fate.  At least maybe it will remind certain types that kidnapping Americans is generally not a profitable endeavor.

[DELTAFOXTROT 64]

20 hours ago, top_secret said:

He was certainly in an area where common sense would dictate that he should not have been in, and he was maintaining a very high profile there.  I don't want to blame the victim and nothing justifies what happened but he showed stunningly poor judgment.  I wish him well but the fact that no ransom or any other demands have been made so far does not bode well for his fate.  At least maybe it will remind certain types that kidnapping Americans is generally not a profitable endeavor.

I am thinking his youth and being young and probably thinking he was bullet proof lead to him living in that area.  He was also shot in the leg, I hope he doens't get like gang green or infection that lead to a fatality.   I hope he survives but I think the odd are not in his favor.

 

 

[RufusDawes 12]

It's a sad situation but the kid met natural selection... either a case of very poor judgement or arrogance for an Afam to marry a Pinay Muslim and live openly as a married couple in Northern Mindanao.  I'm sure the local clerics didn't take too kindly to the situation. 

[DELTAFOXTROT 64]

I haven't seen any updates on him.  Odd are not good for him to still be alive.

 

Was he kidnapped by ABU-Sayyaf or some other faction for ransom money?  Or does anyone know yet?

[DELTAFOXTROT 64]

Presumed Dead due to being shot in the leg and body dumped in the sea.  Guys be extra careful in Mindanao region, the farther west you go the more dangerous.  

 

American Kidnapped in Philippines Is Feared Dead - Newsweek

[spicynujac 27]

I was about as far west as one can be in Mindanao: Zamboanga to be specific, last year.  No problems whatsoever, and I walked through the town center and went to the main mall near City Hall.  Did a bunch of tourist stuff solo and even went to the pink beach island.  Found nothing but a bunch of extremely friendly people (a family on the ferry to Santa Cruz Island adopted me for the day and invited me to share all their meals together).

 

When I went out in the evening, a friendly police officer I had met upon arrival accompanied me at a distance, watching for my safety, due to the long time kidnapping fears. But it turned out I was safer than I am in my city back home in America.

The bottom line is, don't be ostentacious.  Don't be loud, rude, drunk, etc.  Several other motives discussed here are dismissed by police, and  "Eastman's abduction appears to have been carried out by common criminals rather than members of organized rebel groups known to operate in the region. Police believe the suspects targeted Eastman after seeing his Facebook videos documenting life in Sibuco"

 

Sounds to me like a typical case of don't brag or put out personal information on the internet, and/or just being in the wrong place, and perhaps not having good situational awareness (it sounds like these were some known criminals he interacted with--the police found them and shot and killed at least 3 of them)

 

I'm not sure what he was posting about but showing off wealth or extensive travels, expensive electronics, etc. amongst people earning a small fraction of your wealth is a terrible idea.  Really common sense to those of us born in the last century... much less so to people who are terminally online.  I'm not even *on* facebook.  If the videos are still up, I'm curious what the content is.  I'll keep my personal business humble and private, thanks.

[DELTAFOXTROT 64]

On 12/8/2024 at 8:15 PM, spicynujac said:

I was about as far west as one can be in Mindanao: Zamboanga to be specific, last year.  No problems whatsoever, and I walked through the town center and went to the main mall near City Hall.  Did a bunch of tourist stuff solo and even went to the pink beach island.  Found nothing but a bunch of extremely friendly people (a family on the ferry to Santa Cruz Island adopted me for the day and invited me to share all their meals together).

 

When I went out in the evening, a friendly police officer I had met upon arrival accompanied me at a distance, watching for my safety, due to the long time kidnapping fears. But it turned out I was safer than I am in my city back home in America.

The bottom line is, don't be ostentacious.  Don't be loud, rude, drunk, etc.  Several other motives discussed here are dismissed by police, and  "Eastman's abduction appears to have been carried out by common criminals rather than members of organized rebel groups known to operate in the region. Police believe the suspects targeted Eastman after seeing his Facebook videos documenting life in Sibuco"

 

Sounds to me like a typical case of don't brag or put out personal information on the internet, and/or just being in the wrong place, and perhaps not having good situational awareness (it sounds like these were some known criminals he interacted with--the police found them and shot and killed at least 3 of them)

 

I'm not sure what he was posting about but showing off wealth or extensive travels, expensive electronics, etc. amongst people earning a small fraction of your wealth is a terrible idea.  Really common sense to those of us born in the last century... much less so to people who are terminally online.  I'm not even *on* facebook.  If the videos are still up, I'm curious what the content is.  I'll keep my personal business humble and private, thanks.

I just wish someone would of mentored him and tell him to lay low especially in that area, No way would I live in that city. Like you said it fine to visit but you need to keep a moving and become a target if visiting. Him living there was a poor choice.  

 

Back when Davao was still pretty dangerous we couldn't even go to General Santos from there around 2007 to 2011 time frame.  Now of days Gen San is safe.

 

All the American I know living in Mindanao and they are in Davao City or Digos City all keep firearms at thier home for safety and of course tall walls and security cameras.

 

And they all lay low during the day and move mostly at night, going out.