Re: Philippines: former hostage Burnham changes testimony

[mallard]

Re: Philippine Star (Philstar) - 7/31/04 - Headline News
'Gracia contradicted herself'
by Perseus Echeminada:

<http://www.philstar.com/philstar/News200407310401.htm>

American missionary Gracia Burnham contradicted herself on her testimony Thursday when she cleared the military of accusations of collusion with her Abu Sayyaf kidnappers, opposition Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said yesterday.

"Pimentel claimed Burnham backtracked from what she wrote in her book 'In the Presence of My Enemies,' which he said detailed some incidents of collusion between her former captors and the military."


Re: Philippine Daily Inquirer - 7/31/04 - Front Page (Print Version Only)
No big deal, cops say of gun-toting FBI agents
by Christian V. Esguerra & Leila B. Salaverria:

"The picture was quite telling.

"There he was, an agent of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, brandishing a high-powered assault rifle when Gracia Burnham appeared the other day before a local court to testify against her Abu Sayyaf captors.

The American caught in the picture was only one of several armed FBI agents who provided heavy security for Burham during her brief stay in the country to give testimony at the special court hearings in Camp Bagong Diwa, in Bicutan, Taguig.

"Aren't Filipino policemen good enough to secure her?"


Seems like a fair question to me. And why did she back down on the bigger story - even with all that 'back-up'?


Doug Miller (mallard) / off Burnham Park / Baguio City, Philippines

[teryang]

1. Interesting story

Where's our cut? It was only a misinterpretation. A closed door trial?

<Pichay said the country and the military owes Burnham a debt of gratitude for setting the record straight.

Lt. Gen. Romeo Dominguez, along with several other officials who were accused of conniving with the Abu Sayyaf, also expressed thanks to Burnham for clearing their names.

Dominguez, now the commander of the Army Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom), said the supposed collusion was only a product of media interpretation of what actually occurred during the Lamitan siege incident.>

[mallard]

2. Correction: Burnham testimony side-stepped

Re: Philstar - 8/3/04 - Headline news
'No Categorical Clearance'
Former hostage Gracia Burnham did not categorically clear the military of collusion with her Abu Sayyaf captors.

<http://www.philstar.com/philstar/News200408030401.htm>

When the Abu Sayyaf's defense lawyer raised this issue upon cross-examination of Mrs Burnham, prosectution 'objections' were sustained.