Ver Lawyer Asks Court to Permit Marcos’ Return
MANILA — A defense attorney filed a motion with a Supreme Court commission today asking that ousted ruler Ferdinand E. Marcos be permitted to return from exile to contest charges that he whitewashed the trial for the slaying of President Corazon Aquino’s husband.
The motion is the first legal move attorneys have taken to get permission for the deposed leader to return from exile in Honolulu.
Antonio Coronel, attorney for Marcos’ armed forces chief, Gen. Fabian Ver, filed the motion asking the commission investigating allegations of collusion and suppression of evidence in the trial for Benigno S. Aquino’s murder “to secure the attendance†of Marcos.
‘Play Acting’ Allegation
In previous testimony heard by the commission, deputy state prosecutor Manuel Herrera accused Marcos of directing the prosecutors and the trial’s chief justice to “play act†during the proceedings. Herrera headed the five-man prosecution team.
Coronel said he intends to present Marcos “to refute†Herrera’s testimony.
Aquino has refused to grant Marcos a passport to allow him to return to the Philippines or to travel to a third country.
In another development today, the Philippines’ second-biggest bank was brought under state control as the Commission on Good Government seized 95% of its stock and elected new directors. The move prompted Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile to resign as chairman.
Bank Shares Seized
The shares in the United Coconut Planters’ Bank were seized on suspicion that they were controlled by Marcos or his associates, or had been bought improperly with public funds.
Stockholders shouted abuse at commission representatives as they held a stormy meeting. Most of the outgoing directors walked out when it was announced that a new board would be chosen.
Enrile, who was the bank’s chairman, said he had declined to keep the post in order to allow the commission to probe alleged mismanagement and irregularities.
But Enrile said most of the seized stock belonged to coconut farmers and that the bank was one of the best-managed in the country.
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