00:00Today we're going back to the mountains, we're gonna leave the chimney in, what a beautiful place.
00:10This is the usual content of American National, Elliot Eastman, in his vlogs.
00:17That squirrel is beautiful.
00:20How simple, happy, and peaceful is his life in the province of Zamboanga del Norte in Mindanao
00:29with his Filipino wife.
00:31Kabayan, she's my wife.
00:37You want a Filipina girl?
00:38Look, my husband, he's using my makeup.
00:41Look at that.
00:46But their peaceful coexistence was ruined when Elliot was kidnapped by men in their own homes.
00:57Authorities are looking for the American man kidnapped by armed men who recognized the police in Zamboanga del Norte.
01:04He really doesn't have a job here, that American is really poor.
01:07Maybe he was bribed with a lot of money, they think he's a foreigner.
01:11I'm from the U.S., but I'm living here in the Philippines and I'm starting a business.
01:14What is the real motive behind the alleged kidnapping or kidnapping of an American vlogger?
01:22I'm scared.
01:23The family of Elliot's wife, Carisha, lives here in Zamboanga del Norte.
01:30Since the news broke about the kidnapping of her husband,
01:34she became the subject of many interviews in the media.
01:37But this Sunday, she made an exclusive interview with KMJS.
01:46Carisha's story,
01:48Carisha's story,
01:50They fell asleep last night at 11 p.m. on October 17,
01:56when they woke up to a gunshot outside their house.
02:00I heard my mother saying that she heard a gunshot.
02:03Even though we didn't open the door, they kicked it.
02:07They went inside right away.
02:08We were surprised to see what happened.
02:11We went outside and they shot us with a gun.
02:14The suspects introduced themselves to the police.
02:18They said, this is the one who sells shabu.
02:21Then my mother held him and said,
02:24Sir, sir, sir, what is the story of my son?
02:27They spoke.
02:28Where is the American?
02:29He's the one who brings shabu here.
02:31They took me to the house and they put me there.
02:34They took me and the American.
02:36They took me and the American.
02:38I asked them,
02:39I asked them,
02:40No!
02:41I held him and they shot him.
02:44I hold my son and hit him.
02:47I held my son and hit him.
02:51Elliott was shot in the thigh on a boat.
02:55I couldn't see much.
02:57The American broke our lights from outside.
03:02During the years,
03:03the Cebu City Municipality was at a loss.
03:05When the abduction happened,
03:07the civilians were still inside.
03:08It was still early, no one went outside.
03:10In the local authority of my abduction,
03:13there were people who were posted there.
03:15But they were afraid because there were gunshots happening.
03:18Back here at the home.
03:20The 26-year-old Elyot O'Neal Eastman from Vermont, America.
03:26According to his story with Carisha,
03:28he worked as a delivery rider.
03:31In 2023, he went to the Philippines for vacation
03:36and to meet his ex-partner who lives in Zamboanga City.
03:43But because his relationship with Elyot became complicated,
03:47he eventually went back to America.
03:50We met because of a person who brought him to our farm.
03:55I chatted with him and I said,
03:56we just want to know if you got home safely.
04:00He replied,
04:01I'm already here at our house.
04:03Thank you for asking.
04:04The next morning, I saw that he already chatted with me.
04:08He chatted with me a lot.
04:09Then I told him,
04:11you have a boyfriend.
04:13And I don't want your boyfriend to get mad at me.
04:16He told me,
04:17don't worry because I already told him,
04:21I don't want to fight with other people
04:24just because it's a guy.
04:25Carisha's frequent chatting became a way for them to get along.
04:32He asked me if I can live-in.
04:35I told him,
04:36in Muslim rules,
04:38you can't live-in.
04:39You should get married first.
04:41He asked me,
04:42how much is the dowry for a Muslim?
04:44Then I told him,
04:45Sir, I can't answer that.
04:48If you want to talk to my parents,
04:50you can.
04:51Eventually, Elyot returned to Cebu
04:54and on June 23,
04:56Carisha got them married.
04:58They got along well.
05:01Their daily life in the province
05:04is documented on the camera.
05:07Shoot food with a street kid.
05:10I found this person on the street.
05:12I picked her up.
05:13Brought her home.
05:14I'm fearing her.
05:22We have a happy relationship.
05:24She takes care of us.
05:25If there's a problem, she'll ask.
05:28She makes everything clear.
05:30She doesn't want us to fight.
05:32Check out my store, you guys.
05:33This is my business.
05:35See, it's pretty nice.
05:36And then, the Wi-Fi and the solar.
05:38I think I spent a total of like,
05:40130k or something.
05:41Aside from making money by vlogging,
05:43Elyot has set up a Sari-Sari store
05:47to add to their income as a couple.
05:50I can't make as much money here
05:51as I can in the U.S.
05:53But, you know, it's just for fun.
05:54I get to stay here with my wife.
05:56It's not really always about the money.
05:58This is what my wife made.
06:01A store.
06:02But because she's a foreigner,
06:06Karisha wasn't able to save herself from being criticized.
06:10I read something.
06:11They said,
06:12My wife is ugly.
06:14The American is handsome.
06:16Why do you like him?
06:17My wife just told me,
06:19Don't overthink.
06:21Whatever you are,
06:22that's what I like.
06:23Even if she's a foreigner,
06:24I don't chase money from her.
06:27A few days before Elyot was kidnapped,
06:31in his vlog,
06:32it seems like he's been told
06:34about his security.
06:36I've been staying in this area for so long
06:39to the point where people,
06:40I don't even know if people like me anymore.
06:42Maybe they want bad things to happen to me now.
06:44People come in here to tell my family
06:46that there's people that want to kidnap me
06:50or they're threatening to kidnap me.
06:52We didn't tell him that
06:54we'll get something from him.
06:55I just advised him not to walk alone
07:00because he likes to walk around.
07:03I don't really know what would happen
07:05if somebody did try to come here and kidnap me, right?
07:07Would the neighbors help me
07:08or would they just sit there and watch?
07:10Even last night, I'm scared a little bit.
07:12To the point where they're scared.
07:15I don't know if they're mad at us
07:19or they're jealous.
07:21My husband is really friendly.
07:23We didn't fight.
07:25That's why they have no idea
07:27what the real reason for kidnapping Elliot is.
07:31Why would they do that?
07:32My husband is a foreigner,
07:35but he's not rich.
07:40Meanwhile, the PNP in Cebuco
07:43is very surprised
07:45that they were involved in the kidnapping of Elliot.
07:48We are aware that the suspect introduced themselves
07:52as they have an operation against Elliot for drugs.
07:55But it was already cleared that
07:57there was no legitimate operations
08:01from any government or any law enforcement
08:04in the area against Elliot.
08:06It was already confirmed that
08:08he also doesn't have any drugs record in the area.
08:12They immediately conducted an investigation.
08:15Until October 27,
08:17one of the suspects who was kidnapped
08:19was one of the suspects
08:21who was the way to surrender
08:24the other two suspects.
08:25We already have 8 identified suspects.
08:28The 3 of them are already in the custody of the task force.
08:31The last one is the one our authorities are looking for.
08:34Based on the PNP's record,
08:36the suspects already have criminal records.
08:40But we don't have actual demand as of this time
08:44from the abductors to the family nor to the authorities.
08:47The mouths of the suspects also touched
08:50on where Elliot is now
08:51and most of all, if he is still alive.
08:54A lot of people are texting us.
08:56We are verifying all of that.
08:59As of today, we still do not have any proof of life
09:01when it comes to Mr. Isman.
09:03We are hopeful that we can get him
09:06and we can return him to his family.
09:08Meanwhile, Elliot's family in America
09:12is still not in contact with Caricia.
09:15The FBI or the Federal Bureau of Investigation of America
09:19is already in contact with Caricia.
09:22We work closely with local authorities
09:24as they carry out their search efforts.
09:26And we make every effort to keep lines of communication
09:29open with families.
09:30The Department of State has no higher priority
09:32than the welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad.
09:36The authorities also transferred half a million pesos
09:39as reward money
09:41to whoever can teach Elliot
09:43how to drive safely.
09:45I would like to ask for your help
09:47to get my relationship back.
09:49I hope we can continue our relationship.
09:51Please.
09:52I'm going to miss you so much, Elliot.
09:54It's one of the best feelings in the world
09:56being on a motor in the province in the Philippines.
09:58In the past few years,
10:00there have been a lot of foreign vloggers
10:03living in the Philippines.
10:06In their vlogs,
10:08they express their love
10:11for the beauty of our country.
10:13What a beautiful place.
10:15This car is beautiful.
10:18The whole world is now learning
10:21how this case can be resolved.
10:24If the Philippines can be considered safe and peaceful
10:30not only for the Filipinos,
10:33but for all of us.
10:36My countrymen,
10:37my husband,
10:39my wife,
10:41my husband,
10:43my wife,
10:45please tell me where he is
10:47and I hope you will give up on him.
10:51Hello, honey.
10:53I wish you came home safely.
10:55I miss you so much.
10:56Please come home early.
11:11And don't forget to hit the bell button
11:14for our latest updates.
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