Philippines Police have started a search operation following the reported abduction of American national, Elliot Onil Eastman.

Four armed men shot and abducted a 26-year-old from Vermont in western Mindanao, the police said. He had been living in the area since May.

An American man documenting his life in the Philippines was shot in the leg and abducted by a group of gunman dressed up as police officers, according to local authorities.