2 of 4

Also killed in the rescue attempt were Gracia's husband, Martin Burnham, and Filipina nurse Ediborah Yap. Gracia Burnham was shot in the leg.

An unnamed ranking military official complained to The Philippine Inquirer that Burnham's report is biased. "To generalize that the military is in collusion with that terrorist group is unbelievable," he said. "We have lost lives in [going after these] people. Gracia Burnham is not in a position to give a balanced view of information. … Her captors influenced her perception. It is like listening to a one-sided telephone conversation."

A spokesman for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo initially expressed "full trust and confidence in the Armed Forces," but later said Arroyo ordered the departments of National Defense and Foreign Affairs to investigate Burnham's claims and told the AFP to strengthen its rules of engagement against terrorists.

"There should never be any form of contact between troops and terrorists, except armed contact," Arroyo said. The investigation into "Mrs. Burnham's allegations," she said, would be "formal and thorough … so that the facts may be laid bare to the public."

"We cannot leave this story hanging, as it has grave implications on the image and stature of our Armed Forces. As Commander-in-Chief, I will not allow the military to live under the cloud of public doubt," she said in a statement. "Let us not make this issue a media or political feast."

The Philippine Department of Justice says it will ask Burnham to testify before a Philippine official in the investigation.

But Burnham is already commenting on the allegations. In what the Philippine military is characterizing as backpedaling, Burnham told Fox News that the collusion is "what I was told, and I always preface that in my book by that was what I was told. I didn't really accuse anyone. … I think the military was trying their very best to get us out of there. … I think they were doing all they could to locate us. And I think their agenda was to get us out of there safely."

As the controversy continued to rage, however, Burnham issued a statement "to [her] friends in the Philippines" through the U.S. embassy. "I understand it is being reported that I made allegations in the book of collusion between the Philippine military and the Abu Sayyaf," she said.

I do not like that word—allegations. I am not pointing an accusing finger at anyone. I am relating what I was told by the Abu Sayyaf. I will let my book speak for itself. We were told many things by the Abu Sayyaf; some of them true and some of them lies.

If there was collusion between the military and the Abu Sayyaf, God is the righteous judge and someday that will be made right.

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.

I continue to pray for you—my dear friends—my heart is there with you.

But while Gracia is letting her book speak for itself, it's not the first time that collusion between the military and the terrorists has been suggested. After the Abu Sayyaf escaped with the Burnhams and other hostages from a hospital in Lamitan, many witnesses and observers said it was because the militants had paid off soldiers.

next page... |  2 of 4

share this page

May (Web-only) 2003, Vol. 47