New Govt for Filipinos?
By
ROSARIO LIQUICIA
Manila Fighting between rebels and forces loyal to President Marcos broke out near Manila Airport late yesterday after followers of the Opposition leader, Mrs Corazon Aquino, proclaimed a new Philippine Government.
An opposition spokesman said Mrs Aquino would be sworn in as President at a special session of Parliament.
Ramon Mitra, a prominent opposition Member of Parliament, said the assembly would meet to scrap an earlier proclamation that Mr Marcos had been elected in February 7 elections.
“At the end of the meeting, the real winners will be proclaimed. They are Cory Aquino and Salvador Laurel,” he said.
The rebel Armed Forces chief, LieutenantGeneral Fidel Ramos, said in a broadcast after troops loyal to him seized the Government television station that fighting was going on at Villamor air base next to Manila airport
He said his forces had captured the Information
Minister, Mr Cendana, and that the 20,000-strong Navy and the strike arm of the Air Force had joined him against President Marcos.
He also said Philippine security troops at the United States Clark Air Base, 80 km north of Manila, had pledged loyalty to "the new Armed Forces of the people.”
The television station was seized while President Marcos, in a live broadcast, was proclaiming a state of emergency.
An announcer on Channel 4 said: “The people have taken over.” He added: “The new Government of Aquino has taken over and we are prepared for any contingencies which may arise.”
The State-owned network, and the official Philippine News Agency in the same building, went off the air after troops backing General Ramcs and the Defence Minister, Mr Enrile, fought a gun battle with Marcos guards and seized the station.
Four people were wounded in the takeover and the live broadcast of President Marcos’ news
conference was cut. A Government tank fired at a rebel helicopter that dropped a grenade on President Marcos’ heavily-guarded Malacanang Palace where he told foreign correspondents he would fight to the end and that he had abandoned his policy of “maximum tolerance” towards rebel forces. Troops loyal to President Marcos fired into the
air to disperse about 3000 people trying to break through barbed wire barricades round the palace. General Ramos added: “The situation is under control but we are still mopping up and consolidating in some areas." He indicated there was stiff resistance at the Villamor'air base. Evacuation plans, page 6 Further reports, picture pages
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Bibliographic details
Press, 25 February 1986, Page 1
Word Count
408New Govt for Filipinos? Press, 25 February 1986, Page 1
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