Gracia and Martin Burnham-the Kidnapping of these U.S. Missionaries by the ASG

Husband and wife were long-term missionaries to the Philippines. You may read about them in Gracia Burnham's book,In the Presence Of My Enemies. As she wrote about her year captured by the ASG, Basilan is an island where"fear and chaos have become the daily reality" (p.81)because of the terrorists. The ASG that captured and held the 20 hostages included: Khadafi Abubakar Janjalani (whose house is near the Healing House location), Ismilan Hapilon who was second in command to ASG leader Janjalani, and Solaiman who was an engineer from a very wealthy family. Also, Abu Sabayo was the spokesman to the media. Abu Sabayo made Martin make a statement to the Radio Station in Mindanao which was friendly to the ASG. Sabayan wanted Martin to say that they were captured by the Islamic Movement but changed the wording for Martin. Martin was told to say that the "Osama bin Laden Group" had captured them. This was before 911 and before most of the world had heard of bin Laden.Gracia Burnham reported this. Martin was eventually killed in a shootout.

Martin was a pilot, bringing me3dication and food to remote areas of the Philippines in his Cessna. He had been offered a promotion by New Tribes Mission.Martin left for the USA to discuss this proposition.Upon his return he and Gracia planned a romantic time at t6he exclusive Dos Palmas Resort on Palawan Island to celebrate their wedding anniversary.The beautiful cottages are built on stilts out over the water.Their three children were left with neighbors in the Philippines.

On May 27, 2001, a loud banging on their resort door resulted in the ASG terrorists breaking into their room with M16s. They were hurried out the door to a 35 foot speed boat with a total of 20 hostages all taken from the expensive cabins over the water as well as two security guards and the resort cook.The Burnhamssoon realized that their captors were Islamic Terrorists (ASG) who had previously kidnapped another American who was Muslim and African American. Mr Jeffrey Schilling had believed as a Muslim he could help the ASG understand the Koran and that terror tactics were not allowed. Naiivel he attempted and was caught as a kidnapped victim until he escaped from his handcvuffs seven and a half months later.

Another Ameriucan was kidnapped with the Burnhams. Guillermo Sobero was a contractor from California who was with his fiance, Fe.All the other captured victims were Philippine citizens who could afford the pricey resort on Palawan. The youngest victim was R.J.,age 8 years.

For five days and four nights the kidnapped and thei Islamic captors lived in primitive conditions on the boat as they sped on the Sulu Sea. Eventually the boat landed to the cry of "Allah akbar" from more ASG waiting on land. The group of 20 HOSTAGES LANDED ON THE HEALING hOUSE ISLAND OF BASiLAN. BASILAN WAS IN 2001 AND CURRENTLY is A HOME BASE AND WELL-POPUKLATED BY MANY ABU SAYYAF.
This is a violent and dangerous Islamic terrorist group known for beheadings.Frquently kidnapped victims from other areas of the Philippines are sold to the ASG on Basilan. They are held captives while the terrorists attempt to receive a ransome. Some are beheaded and or tortureed. Some are raped and tortured until they agree to become Muslim and marry a Terrorist. Gracia and Martin, as Christian Missionaries, were not forced to change religionsnb
and it sounds like Gracia's husband frquently was the spokesman for the captives.

From the boat the captives were driven to my Lamitan Hospital where the Healing House Basilan is located. The ASG terrorists broke the glass and entered our hospital.The hostages were forced into an empty patient room.

In the meantime three hostages did not fit into the jeepney (*bus that is small). Two of the hostages were beheaded and the third escaped aftrer a "botched" beheading attempt. Yhe third American from California ,contractor Guillermo Sobero, was beheaded.

The Philippine Military (not Marines) began to fire on the ASG in the hospital.The ASG did not believe that the Phil. Military would have a gunfight at a hospital (next to the church) that was filled with patients. They believed that the hospital would be a safe place for negotiations for much ransome money.

I have lived at the Guest House of the former medical director and his wife of this hospital.There was an attempted kidnapping of this physician and his wife, reportedly to care for the kidnapped and the ASG. Their trauma during the Lamitan Seige (as this conflict is called)is palpable and I believe they, as so many, suffer from the trauma even today.