AN American was kidnapped in Zamboanga del Norte by four heavily armed men, authorities said in a report released on Sunday.

According to the report of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Basilan, the incident occurred on Thursday around 11 in the morning at Sitio Tungawan, Barangay Poblacion, Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte.

The victim was identified as Elliot Onil Eastman, from Vermont, USA.

The report said that they received information from a resident of Sitio Tungawan, Barangay Poblacion, Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte, that allegedly four armed men wearing black pants and shirts who identified themselves as police and armed with M16 rifles forcibly took the victim.

The victim struggled and managed to run but was shot in the leg. He was taken onboard a white motorized pump boat allegedly heading toward the high seas of Sulu or Basilan province.

Presently, police are conducting a continuous conduct of information gathering and coordination with other intelligence units were undertaken to identify and locate the whereabouts of the victim and suspects.

The authorities are also checking the information regarding the possible docking of a boat in Basakan, Mohammad Ajul, Basilan province.

Initial information revealed that the victim was in a relationship with a Filipina and a resident of Barangay Poblacion, Sibuco, where the victim visited for about a year.