DOJ talks to Gracia

The fate of certain military officials, who could be investigated for allegedly colluding with the bandit group Abu Sayyaf, will be known next week, a Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutor said yesterday.

Justice officials are still evaluating answers given by former Abu Sayyaf hostage Gracia Burnham, who met with Justice Undersecretary Merceditas Gutierrez in the United States for an interview regarding her recently released book, "In The Presence of My Enemies," that implied a collusion between some military officials and the Abu Sayyaf.

Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera said Burnham was very cooperative in answering Gutierrez’s clarificatory questions during a meeting Thursday afternoon at a restaurant in Rosehill, Kansas.

Several Federal Bureau of Investigation agents and prosecutors from the US Department of Justice were also at the meeting, pursuant to the Philippines’ Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US.

"We are still evaluating her answers to the series of questions we posed. I can tell you that Mrs. Burnham was frank enough to answer our questions and as to how we evaluate or gauge her answers will be up for a resolution," he said.