/ stevenwarran's Library/ Notes/ May 8, 2003, Manila Bulletin, GMA Orders Probe of Military-Abu Collusion; Mrs. Burnham Clarifies Statement in Her Book, by Ferdie J. Maglalang,
May 8, 2003, Manila Bulletin, GMA Orders Probe of Military-Abu Collusion; Mrs. Burnham Clarifies Statement in Her Book, by Ferdie J. Maglalang,
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May 8, 2003, Manila Bulletin, GMA Orders Probe of Military-Abu Collusion; Mrs. Burnham Clarifies Statement in Her Book, by Ferdie J. Maglalang,
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered yesterday an immediate investigation of some military officials who allegedly colluded with the Abu Sayyaf even as she expressed confidence in the integrity of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and its capability to finish off the bandit group.
The President issued the directive following reports of allegations by former Abu Sayyaf hostage Gracia Burnham that some military officials had received a portion of the ransom money raised by Burnham's missionary group for her and her husband's freedom.
She tasked the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to look into the allegations and arrange with US authorities a formal and thorough investigation, so that the facts may be laid bare to the public, and so that proper legal action can be taken against those found culpable of any violations of the military Code of Conduct and the law.
Lamitan priest Fr. Cirilo Nacorda had also charged during a Senate inquiry that at least three military officials colluded with the Abu Sayyaf to allow them to escape a tight military cordon in Lamitan, Basilan, two years ago.
Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., chairman of the Senate national defense committee, recommended that Major Gen. Romeo Dominguez, Col. Juvenal Narcise, and Major Eliseo Campued be court-martialed due to the "strong circumstantial evidence" of connivance.
Although she is the commander in chief of the AFP, the President wants the two government agencies to conduct the investigation "to ensure impartiality" due to the involvement of military officials who were then in the thick of the military operations against the Abu Sayyaf, presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said.
According to him, the President would rather wait for the results of the investigation by the Department of Justice before she decides whether to initiate court-martial proceedings.
"For the sake of ensuring impartiality, this (investigation) will be done by an independent agency because the President wants to get to the bottom of this," he said, ignoring a military tradition subjecting erring military officials to court-martial proceedings.
The President, however, said she still has faith in the integrity of the AFP and its capability to finish off the Abu Sayyaf who brought international shame to the country with their kidnaping spree involving foreign and local tourists, some of whom have already died during their own captivities.
"We affirm our unremitting confidence in the Armed Forces in their determination and capability to finish off the Abu Sayyaf, and I uphold the valor and gallantry of our troops who sacrificed life and limb in the rescue of Mrs. Gracia Burnham," she said.
While she assured Burnham that justice will be served in her and her husband's case, the Chief Executive said she will not tolerate any military personnel having "any form of friendly contact" with the Abu Sayyaf bandits.
"There should never be any form of contact between troops and terrorists, except armed contact. I am glad Mrs. Burnham has fully recovered from her painful ordeal and I would like to assure her that justice will be done in this case," she said.
The three military officers, according to the Senate report release last August, should be liable for violations of the Articles of War on endangering the command because of "gross negligence, abandonment of duty and carelessness, displaying qualities unbecoming of officers and gentlemen."
They should also be charged for violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Anti-Plunder Law for allegedly accepting ransom money from the Abu Sayyaf bandits paid to them by three of their hostages, including businessman Regis Romero.
Not accusing
Gracia Burnham, author of "In the Presence of My Enemies" appeared in Fox News May 6 and clarified that she did not, in her book, accuse the military of alleged collusion with the Abu Sayyaf over ransom payment during her entire 370-day ordeal.
Appearing before the Fox News show Hannity & Colmes, Gracia told Colmes when asked on her claim that the Philippine armed forces were in cahoots with the ASG: "Well, that's 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."
Gracia went on to defend the Philippine military in the show saying she "believed" that the AFP "was trying their very best to get us out of there." The 17th gun battle is the one that killed Martin. I think they were doing all they could to locate us. And I think their agenda was to get us out of there safely," she said.
On the issue of whether it was friendly fire that killed her husband, Martin, Gracia told Hannity & Colmes: "It could very well have been." The gunfire just started right up. And there was no selective gunfire in that battle.
"And you know, we knew, if you believe in luck, and I don't but we knew one of these days our luck was going to run out. And the bullets weren't going to whiz past us, they were going to find us. And during our 17th gun battle, that's what happened."
Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes has already recommended to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo the investigation by the Department of Justice of reports of alleged collusion between the military and the ASG over ransom payment for the release of the Sipadan hostages.
Reyes has likewise cautioned the public to go easy on pre-judging the military institution as this would be unfair without yet the benefit of an investigation.
Reyes
Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes has recommended to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo a full-blown investigation by the Department of Justice of the alleged collusion case between the Abu Sayyaf Group and the Armed Forces of the Philippines over ransom negotiations for the release of Abu Sayyaf hostages.
Reyes said he hopes that the inquiry will be conducted expeditiously "to set the facts straight."
"I have recommended to the President a full-blown probe on the case by the Department of Justice rather than the defense establishment to ensure impartial investigation," he said.
In a radio interview direct from the United States, Reyes likewise cautioned the public to go easy on pre-judging the military in the wake of the release of excerpts from the book of ex-Abu Sayyaf captive Gracia Burnham which he said was written based "on her own perspective" and based on her " own limited point of view."
"Hindi ko sinasabing nagsisinungaling siya pero baka ang ibig sabihin niya ay yun ang kanyang perspektiba. Kaya nandodoon siya captive siya ng Abu Sayyaf. Siyempre ang nadidinig niya yung sinasabi sa kanya. Yun ang naririnig niya ( "I am not saying (Gracia) is lying but perhaps what she meant (in her book) is based on her own perspective. The reason why she was there is because she was a captive (of the ASG) and surely what she was hearing was what was being told to her (by the ASG). That was what she heard)," Reyes explained.
Reyes, who said he hasn't yet seen a copy of Gracia's book "In the Presence of My Enemies", took up the cudgels for the officers and men involved in the rescue operations to free the hostages.
" This is not to pre-judge the case dahil iimbestgahan pa, pero ako nag-eexpress ng aking opinion dahil kilala ko ang mga Generals doon. Ang aking paniniwala ay hindi sila gagawa ng ganyan ( "This is not to pre-judge the case because this yet to be investigated. I am merely expressing an opinion that I know the Generals there. I believe they are not capable of doing that)" he said.
Reyes is currently in the United States as advance party of President Arroyo for her upcoming state visit scheduled on May 17-19. He will be back Sunday, May 11.
DoJ panel
Justice Undersecretary Merceditas Gutierrez is head of a Department of Justice (DoJ) panel that would look into allegations against a Philippine military general aired by American Gracia Burnham who was a hostage of the Abu Sayyaf for 377 days.
Undersecretary Gutierrez was directed by Justice Secretary Simeon Datumanong to coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in the investigation. Both the DoJ and the DFA had been ordered by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to look into Miss Burnham's allegations.
In her book, "In the Presence of My Enemies," Miss Burnham claimed that the ASG was "wheeling and dealing" with the general in the region and that it was the military that provided rice, sugar, and other food to the bandits.
Pichay
House Defense Committee Chairman Prospero Pichay said he was keeping an open mind on the possible reopening of a probe on the Lamitan incident based on new and compelling evidence from American hostage Gracia Burnham.
However, Pichay said he was not inclined to believe the word of the Abu Sayyaf bandits who had told their captives in the Sippadan kidnapping incident that they were in collusion with members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
In a statement, the Mindanaoan solon said revelations of the military's collusion set down in an account by Sippadan hostage Burnham could very well be the product of a deliberate disinformation program perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf on their captives.
"I have no doubt at all that Mrs. Burnham is sincere and that she believes what she heard from the Abu Sayyaf. The problem is that these terrorists have zero credibility. They have been caught lying more times then can be counted."
Still, Pichay said he was awaiting a copy of Burnham's book, In the Presence of My Enemies to see if new and compelling evidence of the military's involvement with the Abu Sayyaf could be gleaned. If found, he said this new evidence could very well prompt the reopening by the Committee of its investigation on the Lamitan incident.
Pichay reiterated he was standing by the results of the committee investigation released last October which found no firm evidence of collusion between the military and the ASG. He said the report was the result of over a year of committee work based on voluminous documents and hours of testimony from the military, the Filipino hostages, local government officials, and the media.
Loren
American missionary Gracia Burnham should be invited back to the Philippines to shed light on the allegations she made in her book that a Filipino general colluded with her and her late husband Martin's kidnappers, the Abu Sayyaf.
Senate Majority Leader Loren Legarda made this call yesterday although she admitted that Burnham may have been too traumatized by her ordeals in Mindanao to even consider testifying in local courts and in other investigative bodies like those of the Senate of the Philippines.
"But the invitation to Ms. Burnham should be extended just the same. The Philippine government should do its best to ensure her that her personal safety would not be compromised should she ever decide to come back to the Philippines to testify," Legarda said.
The lady solon said Burnham's revelations in the book In the Presence of My Enemies are very serious and should not be left hanging unanswered, more so since a similar charge had been raised in the past by another former Abu Sayyaf captive, Fr. Cirilo Nacorda.
"Two separate congressional committees, one from the Senate and another from the House, investigated Fr. Nacorda's accusations that high-ranking officials of the AFP were in cahoots with the Abu Sayyaf," Legarda said. "The contrasting findings of the two committees have raised more questions than answers - questions which we hope to clear up with the help of Ms. Burnham."
Deep concern
Muslim leaders yesterday expressed deep concern over allegations by former Abu Sayyaf hostage Gracia Burnham that some military officers colluded with the the bandit group in their criminal activities.
"This is not maligning the armed forces as an institution, because many of its men are nationalistic enough in their fight for our democracy. But this is a devastating reality," said Deputy Speaker Gerry Salapuddin (Basilan).
Salapuddin said he had made a similar conclusion when the bandits managed to escape "walking, not running" and in full view of residents in the daylight Lamitan siege, before which the bandits were cordoned by enough military forces.
He said during the course of the congressional probe on the infamous siege, there were fingers pointing to higher authorities as having had "directly ordered the field commanders" to withdraw, breaking the chain of command.
As news broke yesterday that the President has directed the Department of Justice to conduct a thorough investigation on Burnham's allegations, Salapuddin said he favored the creation of an independent fact-finding commission composed of representatives from different government agencies.
"We can even invite the United States to help since it as an American who made the allegations of collusion between the military and the Abu Sayyaf," he said, adding the Malaysians may be asked to help since they have a very sophisticated intelligence network.
The Muslim Leaders' Forum (MLF), which met yesterday, also condemned terrorism as they clarified that Islam has always been against terrorism.
Justice Secretary Simeon Datumanong said an investigation as directed by the President could be started once authorities obtain a copy of the book and get Ms. Burnham to narrate under oath the circumstances behind her allegations.
Ms. Burnham has launched her book, titled "In the Presence of my Enemies," 10 months after she was rescued in a daring military operation in the Zamboanga Peninsula late last year.
Sultan Kudarat Gov. Datu Pax Mangudadatu, president of the National Muslim Leaders' Association, PMLF implementing arm, said Muslim leaders under the group were helping the government fight terrorism in their respective areas and in the entire country in general.
Mangudadatu said the Muslim support in fight against terrorism could be anywhere from actual combat with their paramilitary groups to education and implementing socio-economic programs in their localities.
He cited a strategy he said proved worthy of emulation in his province- effective sharing of the fruits of development with the residents to eliminate rebellion. (Edd K. Usman)
Gracia Burnham, author of "In the Presence of My Enemies" appeared in Fox News May 6 and clarified that she did not, in her book, accuse the military of alleged collusion with the Abu Sayyaf over ransom payment during her entire 370-day ordeal.
Appearing before the Fox News show Hannity & Colmes, Gracia told Colmes when asked on her claim that the Philippine armed forces were in cahoots with the ASG: "Well, that's 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."
Gracia went on to defend the Philippine military in the show saying she "believed" that the AFP "was trying their very best to get us out of there." The 17th gun battle is the one that killed Martin. I think they were doing all they could to locate us. And I think their agenda was to get us out of there safely," she said.
On the issue of whether it was friendly fire that killed her husband, Martin, Gracia told Hannity & Colmes: "It could very well have been." The gunfire just started right up. And there was no selective gunfire in that battle.
"And you know, we knew, if you believe in luck, and I don't but we knew one of these days our luck was going to run out. And the bullets weren't going to whiz past us, they were going to find us. And during our 17th gun battle, that's what happened."
Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes has already recommended to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo the investigation by the Department of Justice of reports of alleged collusion between the military and the ASG over ransom payment for the release of the Sipadan hostages.
Reyes has likewise cautioned the public to go easy on pre-judging the military institution as this would be unfair without yet the benefit of an investigation.
Reyes
Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes has recommended to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo a full-blown investigation by the Department of Justice of the alleged collusion case between the Abu Sayyaf Group and the Armed Forces of the Philippines over ransom negotiations for the release of Abu Sayyaf hostages.
Reyes said he hopes that the inquiry will be conducted expeditiously "to set the facts straight."
"I have recommended to the President a full-blown probe on the case by the Department of Justice rather than the defense establishment to ensure impartial investigation," he said.
In a radio interview direct from the United States, Reyes likewise cautioned the public to go easy on pre-judging the military in the wake of the release of excerpts from the book of ex-Abu Sayyaf captive Gracia Burnham which he said was written based "on her own perspective" and based on her " own limited point of view."
"Hindi ko sinasabing nagsisinungaling siya pero baka ang ibig sabihin niya ay yun ang kanyang perspektiba. Kaya nandodoon siya captive siya ng Abu Sayyaf. Siyempre ang nadidinig niya yung sinasabi sa kanya. Yun ang naririnig niya ( "I am not saying (Gracia) is lying but perhaps what she meant (in her book) is based on her own perspective. The reason why she was there is because she was a captive (of the ASG) and surely what she was hearing was what was being told to her (by the ASG). That was what she heard)," Reyes explained.
Reyes, who said he hasn't yet seen a copy of Gracia's book "In the Presence of My Enemies", took up the cudgels for the officers and men involved in the rescue operations to free the hostages.
" This is not to pre-judge the case dahil iimbestgahan pa, pero ako nag-eexpress ng aking opinion dahil kilala ko ang mga Generals doon. Ang aking paniniwala ay hindi sila gagawa ng ganyan ( "This is not to pre-judge the case because this yet to be investigated. I am merely expressing an opinion that I know the Generals there. I believe they are not capable of doing that)" he said.
Reyes is currently in the United States as advance party of President Arroyo for her upcoming state visit scheduled on May 17-19. He will be back Sunday, May 11.
DoJ panel
Justice Undersecretary Merceditas Gutierrez is head of a Department of Justice (DoJ) panel that would look into allegations against a Philippine military general aired by American Gracia Burnham who was a hostage of the Abu Sayyaf for 377 days.
Undersecretary Gutierrez was directed by Justice Secretary Simeon Datumanong to coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in the investigation. Both the DoJ and the DFA had been ordered by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to look into Miss Burnham's allegations.
In her book, "In the Presence of My Enemies," Miss Burnham claimed that the ASG was "wheeling and dealing" with the general in the region and that it was the military that provided rice, sugar, and other food to the bandits.
Pichay
House Defense Committee Chairman Prospero Pichay said he was keeping an open mind on the possible reopening of a probe on the Lamitan incident based on new and compelling evidence from American hostage Gracia Burnham.
However, Pichay said he was not inclined to believe the word of the Abu Sayyaf bandits who had told their captives in the Sippadan kidnapping incident that they were in collusion with members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
In a statement, the Mindanaoan solon said revelations of the military's collusion set down in an account by Sippadan hostage Burnham could very well be the product of a deliberate disinformation program perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf on their captives.
"I have no doubt at all that Mrs. Burnham is sincere and that she believes what she heard from the Abu Sayyaf. The problem is that these terrorists have zero credibility. They have been caught lying more times then can be counted."
Still, Pichay said he was awaiting a copy of Burnham's book, In the Presence of My Enemies to see if new and compelling evidence of the military's involvement with the Abu Sayyaf could be gleaned. If found, he said this new evidence could very well prompt the reopening by the Committee of its investigation on the Lamitan incident.
Pichay reiterated he was standing by the results of the committee investigation released last October which found no firm evidence of collusion between the military and the ASG. He said the report was the result of over a year of committee work based on voluminous documents and hours of testimony from the military, the Filipino hostages, local government officials, and the media.
Loren
American missionary Gracia Burnham should be invited back to the Philippines to shed light on the allegations she made in her book that a Filipino general colluded with her and her late husband Martin's kidnappers, the Abu Sayyaf.
Senate Majority Leader Loren Legarda made this call yesterday although she admitted that Burnham may have been too traumatized by her ordeals in Mindanao to even consider testifying in local courts and in other investigative bodies like those of the Senate of the Philippines.
"But the invitation to Ms. Burnham should be extended just the same. The Philippine government should do its best to ensure her that her personal safety would not be compromised should she ever decide to come back to the Philippines to testify," Legarda said.
The lady solon said Burnham's revelations in the book In the Presence of My Enemies are very serious and should not be left hanging unanswered, more so since a similar charge had been raised in the past by another former Abu Sayyaf captive, Fr. Cirilo Nacorda.
"Two separate congressional committees, one from the Senate and another from the House, investigated Fr. Nacorda's accusations that high-ranking officials of the AFP were in cahoots with the Abu Sayyaf," Legarda said. "The contrasting findings of the two committees have raised more questions than answers - questions which we hope to clear up with the help of Ms. Burnham."
Deep concern
Muslim leaders yesterday expressed deep concern over allegations by former Abu Sayyaf hostage Gracia Burnham that some military officers colluded with the the bandit group in their criminal activities.
"This is not maligning the armed forces as an institution, because many of its men are nationalistic enough in their fight for our democracy. But this is a devastating reality," said Deputy Speaker Gerry Salapuddin (Basilan).
Salapuddin said he had made a similar conclusion when the bandits managed to escape "walking, not running" and in full view of residents in the daylight Lamitan siege, before which the bandits were cordoned by enough military forces.
He said during the course of the congressional probe on the infamous siege, there were fingers pointing to higher authorities as having had "directly ordered the field commanders" to withdraw, breaking the chain of command.
As news broke yesterday that the President has directed the Department of Justice to conduct a thorough investigation on Burnham's allegations, Salapuddin said he favored the creation of an independent fact-finding commission composed of representatives from different government agencies.
"We can even invite the United States to help since it as an American who made the allegations of collusion between the military and the Abu Sayyaf," he said, adding the Malaysians may be asked to help since they have a very sophisticated intelligence network.
The Muslim Leaders' Forum (MLF), which met yesterday, also condemned terrorism as they clarified that Islam has always been against terrorism.
Justice Secretary Simeon Datumanong said an investigation as directed by the President could be started once authorities obtain a copy of the book and get Ms. Burnham to narrate under oath the circumstances behind her allegations.
Ms. Burnham has launched her book, titled "In the Presence of my Enemies," 10 months after she was rescued in a daring military operation in the Zamboanga Peninsula late last year.
Sultan Kudarat Gov. Datu Pax Mangudadatu, president of the National Muslim Leaders' Association, PMLF implementing arm, said Muslim leaders under the group were helping the government fight terrorism in their respective areas and in the entire country in general.
Mangudadatu said the Muslim support in fight against terrorism could be anywhere from actual combat with their paramilitary groups to education and implementing socio-economic programs in their localities.
He cited a strategy he said proved worthy of emulation in his province- effective sharing of the fruits of development with the residents to eliminate rebellion. (Edd K. Usman)
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