In the Philippines, police are trying to rescue an American kidnapped by gunmen

Police in the Philippines have launched a search operation after an American citizen from Vermont named Elliot Onil Eastman was reportedly shot and kidnapped.

Authorities said Thursday that Eastman, 26, was shot in the leg as he tried to resist his captors before being taken away by four men dressed in black who posed as police officers.

They added that he was put on a speedboat on Thursday evening in Sibuco, a coastal town in the southern province of Zamboanga del Norte.

Witnesses said one of the attackers shot him in the leg before dragging him onto the waiting boat, which then sailed away towards Basilan or Sulu provinces.

Local police attempted to pursue the suspects but were unsuccessful.

They have since alerted other police units and Philippine naval forces in the area.

Authorities are calling for public assistance in obtaining information related to the ongoing investigation.

The U.S. Embassy in Manila has not yet responded to inquiries about the kidnapping.

Meanwhile, background information on Eastman remains limited, although a person with a similar name shared posts on social media about marrying a Muslim woman in Sibuco.

If confirmed as a kidnapping for ransom, this incident would highlight the ongoing security problems in the southern Philippines, an impoverished and neglected region with a significant Muslim population in a predominantly Roman Catholic country.

The resource-rich south of the Philippines has long struggled with poverty and inequality. It is home to a number of insurgent groups.

A 2014 peace deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the largest of several separatist factions, has reduced conflict in the region.

Although military operations have curbed the influence of smaller armed groups such as Abu Sayyaf, known for its history of kidnappings and ransom demands, a small threat remains.

The Abu Sayyaf group, which is designated a terrorist organization by both the U.S. and Philippine governments, has a history of targeting foreign nationals, including Americans.

Its activities have declined in recent years, but analysts say the possibility of a resurgence cannot be ruled out, especially as the Philippines prepares for next year’s midterm elections.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for Eastman’s kidnapping, and there is no indication that a ransom demand will be made.

Authorities have reported few isolated incidents in recent years, but the latest kidnapping is a reminder of ongoing security problems in the region.

This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press