Gracia: I leave judgment to God

WASHINGTON — American missionary Gracia Burnham, who was held hostage for more than a year by the Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines, said she would leave it to God to judge claims that the local military had colluded with the bandits.

"If there was collusion between the military and the Abu Sayyaf, God is the righteous judge and someday, that will be made right," Burnham said in a statement.

Seeking to dampen a political firestorm in the Philippines over allegations in her book, "In the Presence of My Enemies," that a military general had demanded a 50 percent cut of the ransom that the Abu Sayyaf sought for her and other hostages’ release, Burnham said she had no personal knowledge of collusion between the military and the rebels.

In her first interview with a Philippine newspaper since the publication of the book, Burnham told The STAR she was only recounting what the Abu Sayyaf had told her.

"I don’t have any personal knowledge (of wrongdoing by the military) and I certainly wouldn’t accuse someone of doing something bad without any foundation; on the other hand I think it’s pretty common knowledge in the Philippines that things like this go on," she said.

Gracia was rescued by the Philippine military after 377 days in captivity in June 2002. Her husband, Martin, and another captive, Filipino nurse Edibora Yap, were killed during the bloody rescue.

In her statement addressed to her "friends in the Philippines," Burnham emphasized she was not pointing an accusing finger at anyone. She was merely relating what she was told by the Abu Sayyaf.

"We were told many things by the Abu Sayyaf; some of them true and some of them lies," she said. "The ‘bad guys’ during our experience were the Abu Sayyaf. Martin and I were aware that many Philippine soldiers died as they attempted to end our captivity. The goal of those brave soldiers was to rescue us, and nothing more. We want their loved ones to know that we appreciate the sacrifice they made for us and we honor their memory," the statement added.

Asked if she discussed the matter of military corruption and ineptitude with President Arroyo or any government official immediately after her rescue or at any time while she was writing her book, Mrs. Burnham said "No, I didn’t."

"I never went to a government official to report what the Abu Sayyaf told us. No, I didn’t do that and maybe it would have been more fair if I had done that before the book came out. On the other hand if I had tried to please everyone telling my story there would be no book," she told The STAR in a telephone interview.

She said after her rescue the President personally went to see her at the US Embassy in Manila and apologized for Martin’s death.

"She said she was sorry that things had turned out the way they did. Everyone wanted to get us out safely. She was very kind to me when we talked at the embassy," Mrs. Burnham recalled.

The Philippine Congress had previously investigated charges that the military allowed the Abu Sayyaf gunmen to escape, along with the Burnhams and other hostages, from a military-surrounded hospital compound in Lamitan, Basilan.

A Senate investigating committee said there was "circumstantial evidence" of collusion and that three military officers should be court-martialed. This recommendation was not carried out.

Mrs. Arroyo, however, on Thursday launched an inquiry into the claims made in Burnham’s book and said she "cannot leave the story hanging as it has grave implications on the image and stature of our armed forces."

The Department of Justice has formed a panel of prosecutors headed by Undersecretary Merceditas Gutierrez to start the probe.

Gutierrez said they will have to evaluate Burnham’s book before military officials are investigated on the alleged collusion with the Abu Sayyaf rebels.

"I have already instructed one of our prosecutors to check how we can get hold of the book as soon as possible. We can ask the Philippine Embassy in the United States to send it through diplomatic pouch," Gutierrez said.

She admitted, though, that the book will not be enough basis. There should be other evidence to corroborate it such as a statement from Mrs. Burnham that will be sworn and subscribed to before an official authorized to administer oath in the Philippine Embassy in the United States.

"After getting her testimony and we find out that there is collusion, that’s the only time we will conduct an investigation," she said.

"A lot of things have been said and written about the book and we should clarify these things to know the truth," she said. — With Aurea Calica, Pia Lee-Brago, AFP