ARREST AT SEA Jamani Jackaria (left, back to the camera), identified as a 鈥渒ey suspect鈥� in the kidnapping last year of American vlogger Elliot Eastman in Zamboanga del Norte, is arrested aboard a boat in the waters between Zamboanga City and Basilan province this week. 鈥� PHOTO COURTESY OF ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA POLICE
PAGADIAN CITY 鈥� Policemen in Zamboanga Peninsula region arrested on Tuesday one of the suspects in the abduction of American vlogger Elliot Eastman, police said on Thursday.
In a telephone interview, Lt. Col. Ramoncelio Sawan, spokesperson for the regional police, said Jamani Siddick Jackaria, 35, was arrested in the waters between Zamboanga City and Basilan province around 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 7.
鈥淗e was alone aboard a motorized banca when our operatives caught up with him,鈥� Sawan said.
He added that the police 鈥渉ave been closely following [Jackaria鈥檚] movements since he was implicated in the kidnapping [of Eastman].鈥�
Jakaria has a standing warrant of arrest for kidnapping and serious illegal detention, as he had been named by several suspects to have been involved in the planning and execution of Eastman鈥檚 abduction in Sibuco town, Zamboanga del Norte province, on Oct. 17 last year.
Revelation
Eastman, 26, was shot in the leg and body after he tried to resist the kidnappers who went to his house and posed as law enforcers. The American vlogger was then led into a waiting speedboat.
A native of Vermont, Eastman settled in Sibuco for some five months before the abduction after he married a local woman.
Last month, police gave credence to the revelation of one of the suspects that the wounded Eastman died while in transit and his body dumped at sea.
Eastman鈥檚 remains, however, have yet to be recovered despite extensive search operations by authorities.
Sawan described Jackaria, a resident of Sibuco, as 鈥渁 key suspect in the crime, not necessarily the mastermind.鈥�
The warrant against Jackaria was issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 27 in Siocon town, and no bail was set for his temporary liberty.
鈥淭his development is a testament to our unwavering dedication and continued commitment to serve justice for the victim,鈥� Brig. Gen. Bowenn Joey Masauding, regional police director, said in a statement on Thursday.
Masauding lauded the police units of the Zamboanga Peninsula and Bangsamoro regions for assisting the Sibuco police in carrying out Jackaria鈥檚 arrest.