Philippine authorities are investigating the incident and searching for Eastman and his captors, who are believed to have fled south by sea. Eastman, who married a local Muslim woman last year, had been living in the area since May and shared his experiences as a foreigner in Mindanao through YouTube videos.
The southern Philippines, particularly Mindanao Island, is known for its security challenges due to the presence of Islamic separatist groups like the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and ISIS-affiliated Abu Sayyaf. The region has a history of kidnappings and violence against foreigners, especially in the 2010s.