A missing American vlogger kidnapped from his home was allegedly shot dead by his captors in the Philippines.

Elliot Eastman, 26, reportedly died on the night of his abduction from the poverty-stricken town of Sibuco in Zamboanga del Norte on October 17. He was allegedly shot while trying to resist the suspects but died while being whisked away on a boat.

Speaking in the video at a a press conference today, Brigadier General Jean Fajardo, spokesman for the Philippine National Police, said: 'Based on the testimony of one of the suspects who became a witness, he confirmed that Eastman is dead. It was found that on the day of the abduction, he was shot twice - once in the leg and once in the stomach.

'While he was being transported on a boat - this boat has been found although they tried to hide it by painting it a different colour, but we were able to trace and locate it.

'Based on the revelation of one of the suspects, Eastman died on the day he was abducted. While he was on the boat, he was thrown into the middle of the sea. Unfortunately, until now, the combined elements of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines are still searching for his body.'

Speaking today, Lieutenant Colonel Ramoncelio Sawan, the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Zamboanga Peninsula acting spokesman, said: 'Sometime late October, during our investigation, we encountered one witness who claimed Eastman had been shot during the abduction.

'On their way to escape by sea, the abductors noticed that Elliot Eastman was already dead. They threw his body into the water.'

He said officials had treated the testimony as speculation, before it was this week verified by a suspect allegedly involved in the abduction.

He continued: 'But then later on, sometime in November, we caught a suspect linked to the kidnapping. He himself confirmed what happened. He confirmed Elliot had been shot and that the man was dumped overboard.

'This suspect was able to execute an extrajudicial confession and then we submitted it to the Prosecutor's Office where we filed the complaint. The prosecutors accepted it.'

Hopeful authorities had for weeks been on a frantic search for the expat who they previously believed was still alive. The operation resulted in clashes with armed kidnapping groups on the conflict-torn island of Mindanao.

Eastman's family has been informed through the US Embassy, the police spokesman added.

Police said they have not yet found Eastman's body. Officials have not clarified the motive behind the abduction.

The American YouTuber was reportedly in the house with his Muslim Filipina wife Karisha Jala when four armed men allegedly burst through the door around 10pm on October 17.

The attackers falsely claimed they were police and reportedly shot the expat in the leg when he tried to resist. He was then bundled away in a speedboat off the coast of Zamboanga del Norte - one of the most dangerous parts of the notoriously crime-ridden country.

Police arrived at around 11pm and took pictures of the suspected crime scene. Blood believed to be from Elliot's gunshot wound was smeared across a length of vinyl flooring. An empty bullet cartridge from an M16 rifle could also be seen alongside everyday items including a hat, handbag and food.

Former Sibuco Mayor Norbideiri Edding said kidnappers may have targetted the American because they thought he was a rich foreigner and resentment that he was living with a local Muslim woman.

He also claimed Elliot had been facing financial difficulties after allegedly being scammed by his previous girlfriend whom he had planned to marry.

The Philippines' southern region has been grappling with constant separatist attacks for decades. A Muslim enclave in the predominantly Catholic country, it is also a notorious hub for violent extremist groups such as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf.

Efforts toward peace have seen progress, with a 2014 peace agreement and the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in 2019. However, sporadic clashes with extremist factions and ongoing poverty continue to challenge long-term stability.