Former Manila President seeks asylum in U.S.

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34119, 3 April 1976, Page 15

Former Manila President seeks asylum in U.S.

•’ I <.\ 7 PA -Hemer—C->pyrtgh r MANILA. April 2. The whereabouts of (the former Philippines (President. Air Diosdado (Macapagal, were unceritain today after he had (requester asylum at the (United State Embassy- in (Manila. The former President published a book yesterday cabling for an army coup to (topple President I erdir.and Marcos, who four years ago declared martial law and postponed elections due in 1973. Mr Macapagal’s 21(i-.>a".e book, which also say- th.a elections for a new Pre.-i ! ■< should be held. is the strongest attack yet on Pident Marcos. One of Mr Macapagal’s aides said that (the former President had I asked for asylum because he

feared that his arrest was imminent It was unclear in Manila today whether his request had been granted. U.S. Em bassy spokesmen refused to comment, although. in Washington, a State D-. pai i ment spokesman. Mr Robert Funseth. said the request had been vetoed because th. United States did not not mally grant asylum to citizens of another country on their own soil. But reporters keeping watch outside the embassy saw unusual activity throughout the night, cars coming and going. An embassy counsellor, Mr Maurice Lee, said he could not confirm the State Department announcement. The book, entitled “Democracy in the Philippines,” is o.isic-ted sufficiently- critical by political observers to lay Mr Macapagal open to a possible charge of incitement to rebellion, a major icri: e r -clcr martial law.