Trial demanded for general

Press, 26 October 1984, Page 8

Trial demanded for general

NZPA-AFP Manila Twenty-three prominent Philippines citizens groups demanded yesterday that a “credible and competent court” try General Fabian Ver and 25 others for the murder of the Opposition leader, Benigno Aquino. In full-page advertisements published by main dailies entitled, “Truth and Justice,” the 23 said, that a “most important first step is the immediate and permanent relief of all those named in the (military) conspiracy.” The President’s approval on Wednesday of temporary leave sought by General Ver, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, and the

Manila police chief, MajorGeneral Prospero Olivas fell short of the groups’ demand for their permanent dismissal. The board investigating the murder said that General Ver was behind the “military conspiracy” to assassinate Mr Aquino. The third top officer named was . Brigadier-Gen-eral Luther Custodio, former head of the Aviation Security Command, which provided airport “security” for Mr Aquino when he was killed on August 21 last year. Mr Marcos has forwarded the board’s findings to the Tanodbayan, a special prosecuting arm of his Government, before trial

by the Sandiganbayan, a court he also created years ago to try erring Government officials.

The 23 groups included the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference for Human Development, of which Cardinal Jaime Sin is a member, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, the Makati Business Club, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and the Association of Christian Schools and Colleges. Many of their members have been active in antiGovernment street rallies and demonstrations. In the United States the President, Mr Ferdinand Marcos, came under criticism.

Representative Stephen Solarz (Democrat, New York), who heads the House of Representatives sub-com-

mittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs, said, “I find it inconceivable that those high up in the Marcos Government did not know about the assassination.” “The New York Times” in an editorial called the implication of General Ver in the killing “a devastating conclusion, pointing straight at the Presidential Palace.”

Philippines exile groups said in a joint statement, “It is inconceivable that an operation of this magnitude carried out by officers personally loyal to Marcos could have been undertaken without his approval.” Another Democratic Congressman, Tony Hall, of Ohio, said that the alleged complicity of military officers in the plot “provides yet another justification for Congressional efforts to cut military aid to the Marcos regime.”