THREE persons of interest in the October 17 kidnapping of American blogger Elliot Eastman were slain in a firefight with government troops in Zamboanga Sibugay last Tuesday morning.
The Zamboanga Peninsula Police Regional Office named the fatalities as Morsid Ahod and brothers Abdul Sahibad and Fahad Sahibad.
Police said Ahod, the region’s seventh most wanted person, has standing arrest warrants for murder. Ahod is said to be also involved in kidnapping, extortion and theft.
Zamboanga Peninsula police spokesperson Lt. Col. Helen Galvez described the three as “persons of interest” in the kidnapping of Eastman, who remains missing since he was seized by a group of armed men at his residence in Sibuco, Lanao del Norte.
“They coddled the group of abductors. They helped facilitate (the kidnapping), they are accessories to the crime,” Galvez said of the three.
Policemen have already filed kidnapping charges against six suspects, three of them under police custody.
Policemen and soldiers were conducting law enforcement in Barangay Canacan, Kabasalan town in Zamboanga Sibugay on Tuesday when a firefight broke out with 10 “lawless elements.”
The encounter also led to the seizure of two rifles.
No one was reported hurt on the government side.
“Intelligence (information) suggests that Ahod and the Sahibad brothers provided refuge and support to other suspects and persons of interest involved in Mr. Eastman’s abduction, enabling their evasion from authorities,” the Zamboanga Peninsula police said in a statement.
Zamboanga Peninsula police director Brig. Gen. Bowenn Masauding commended the policemen and soldiers involved in the successful operation.
“This success is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our forces in delivering justice and ensuring public safety. Let it serve as a powerful reminder that those who threaten the peace and security of our communities will be brought to justice,” said Masauding.
Masauding said “critical support” was provided by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Moro National Liberation Front and local government units.
