Elliot Eastman, an American living in the Philippines who was shot and abducted from the island of Mindanao in October, was most likely killed by his kidnappers, the Philippine National Police said on Thursday.

       The police have taken four men into custody since the abduction, and testimony from one of the men led the police to believe Mr. Eastman died on the day he was taken, according to Jean Fajardo, a spokeswoman for the police. Four other suspects are still at large, the police said.

       Mr. Eastman, who had been living in the Philippines since May, was taken from his home in the coastal town of Sibuco on Oct. 17 by men who falsely introduced themselves as police officers and carried him away on a boat. He sustained two wounds, one in the leg when he was first shot, and one in his stomach, the police said.

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