13636 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS June 12, 1986 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS THE STATE OF THE PHILIPPINES news photos and convey the impression that One report has it that Rocky Ablan, until church people are backing Marcos. recently vice governor of Ilocos Norte, This appears to be verified by an account where Marcos' son "Bongbong" was gover­ HON. CECIL (CEC) HEFfEL in Veritas, the Catholic newspaper, about a nor, is the conduit for money to pay the OF HAWAII reporter who approached a group wearing demonstrators. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES religious garb and asked if they were Catho­ Ablan had been in the news in the past for lics. his efforts to get the Soviet airline Aeroflot Thursday, June 12, 1986 "Of course we are Catholics," one of the to land at a projected international airport Mr. HEFTEL of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, this is women snapped. "We belong to the pro­ in his province. He has been involved in a the second of a 10-article series on the Philip­ Marcos segment of the Catholic Church." Philippines-Soviet shipping company. pines written by George Chaplin, the editor-in­ When he pressed for more information, While Marcos pours on the fuel from his another answered. "We are from the Sacri­ chief .of the Honolulu Advertiser. This install­ haven in Honolulu, others from his old po­ fice Valley Catholic Movement." litical machine here continue busy-espe­ ment addresses the issue of the pro-Marcos Since the reporter had never heard of this cially former labor minister Blas Ople and support groups remaining in the Philippines movement, he asked more questions. Then, Arturo Tolentino, Marcos' running mate and their activities against the current Aquino says Veritas, he saw a group of young men, who steadfastly contends that he is the administration. armed with wooden staves, approaching. He country's legitimate vice president. The article follows: beat a strategic retreat. Ople formed a splinter group-the PNP­ Veritas, in a column by Editor Felix Bau­ from Marcos' KBL, party but still attends [From the Honolulu Advertiser, May 19, tista, contrasts these rallies with the earlier 1986] KBL caucuses and is said to have been des­ ones of the Aquino supporters. ignated the KBL leader in Central Luzon, MARCOS & Co.: AN UNSETTLING LEGACY "In quantity and quality, in the mood and replacing Eduardo Cojuangco, a key Marcos <By George Chaplin) attitude of the participants, there is a world associate who fled to Hawaii with him. MANILA.· -It is not yet three months since of difference between the pro-Marcos dem­ At first Opie was venting his spleen at Marcos & Co. hastily fled the Philippines, onstrations and those put on by the pro­ Marcos, but subsided when Marcos, claiming but the deposed president's comeback cam­ Aquino rallyists before, during and immedi­ he has certain adverse documents, cau­ paign is already in full swing. ately after the February revolution." tioned him against being "too arrogant." For weeks now a 24-hour protest base, re­ He says that even though hundreds of A month ago 96 rebel members of the plete with banners, has been maintained thousands of Aquino supporters turned out, Aquino-disbanded parliament were led by across Roxas Boulevard from the American the mood was peaceful, even festive. Ople into a rump session in defiance of the Embassy. "On the street between Camp Aguinaldo new government. During the day it's pretty quiet, with a and Camp Crame, the people sang and Former senator Tolentino was praised by skeleton crew and the usual noodle, ice danced. And they shared, not just stories Ople as "the new leading symbol and chief­ cream and soft drink vendors. At nightfall a about their hopes and dreams for the coun­ tain of the opposition" and responded by crowd gathers, haranguing passerby and try, but the food and drink that they had. calling for civil disobedience against Cory banging on cars which stop for a red light. "They were full of love, and that love was Aquino's "dictatorial regime." Recently, a Canadian mistaken for an most dramatically expressed when they opened their arms and their hearts to the Aquino had earlier dissolved parliament American was beaten up. soldiers. because it was generally felt its membership At first, 40 policemen couldn't keep the "Again in stark contrast, the Marcos loyal­ had been rigged by Marcos forces and would street clear. When their shift ended and no ists are full of hate. A girl working in one of stymie the government's efforts to get the replacements showed, they simply went the offices fronting the American Embassy country moving. home. The demonstrators tied and barri­ got the scare of her life because she was ac­ A new parliament is to be elected, along caded the embassy gates and wrote obsceni­ costed by two demonstrators and threatened with provincial and local officials, and a new ties on the embassy's outside walls. with all sorts of dire punishment. Her crime: constitution will be written-all in the The police, if anything, over-reacted, send­ She was wearing a yellow accessory on her months ahead. ing six fire trucks and -200 to 300 policemen blouse. The offending accessory was rudely The Marcos maneuvering can be expected in riot gear. and forcibly torn out before they let her go. to continue, even though attendance at the The Marcos demonstrations have since "Countless men have been hurt because rallies has been far less than the projected branched out to a number of locations, in­ they refused to make the "V" sign when figures. At one rally, for example, the boast cluding nearby Rizal Park, where on signal asked to do so. Cars have been scratched, was that a million people would show, but some thousands gather and, on occasion, and some windshields broken, because their only a few thousand did. Still the loyalists provoke the police into firm response by owners beat out the 'Cory, Cory, Cory' claim that Marcos will be back here soon, rock throwing and general hooliganism. slogan with their horns. possibly as early as next month. Newspeople from radio stations and newspa­ "Frankly, we do not know what they hope Some suggest that the government is pers which the protesters dislike have been to accomplish by this ill-advised display of overly diverted by Marcos' activities, but roughed up. unmitigated hatred and hostility. Obviously, they obviously can't be ignored. Recently, Marcos has addressed some of the rallies if they want their case to succeed, they the unusually mild-mannered President by telephone from Hawaii, as well as speak­ should try to win over-rather than antago­ Aquino fired the Manila police chief for ing to the general public in radio talk shows nize-the population. As things stand, they being too lax with violent protesters. and interviews. He urges against violence are making more and more enemies with Whether there's real concern here that and civil war, but in language and in a con­ each passing day." Marcos could destabilize the Aquino govern­ text that lead many to believe he is actually An American official told us that a "lot of ment is hard to discover. Officials tend to encouraging them. Filipinos are embarrassed." dismiss the rallies as just irritants, but they Marcos is quoted as saying in Tagalog: "I Reports persist that while some of the may be overly minimizing the damage. am your legitimate president. I'll get even. I pro-Marcos protesters are "true believers" An organization called "The Friends of do not mean I will exact vengeance, but I and some are concerned about their loss of Marcos in America" is reported busily rais­ will get even with their cruelty, their abuses status <these including some faded actors ing funds and producing newsletters. The and their thievery.... I am healthy.... I and actresses), many are being paid for Marcoses' 32nd wedding anniversary observ­ am ready to fight." And Imelda Marcos, re­ their services. ance in Honolulu was converted into a polit­ ferring to herself as "your First Lady," sobs One knowledgeable observer told us there ical rally with 5,000 attending and a video­ to the crowds that she and her husband are "some poor people-squatters and unem­ tape made for use here. "will do everything" to return. ployed workers-who desperately need the Secretary of State Shultz has expressed Cardinal Jaime Sin told us that some lay 50 to 200 pesos <$2.50 to $10) and then there Washington's displeasure at Marcos' inces­ people at rallies are wearing nuns' habits are thugs who are always available for sant political phone calls to the Philippines, and priests' cassocks so they can get into hire." but points out that the U.S. is a free coun- e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. June 12, 1986 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 13637 try. Washington wishes he'd leave the juangco; banana grower Antonio Fliorendo, ering to ask how payments of principal and States, but Manila says it wants him within beer brewer Lucio Tan, auto dealer Ricardo interest, when they fall due, would be met. reach of the American courts. There still Siverio, management consultant Herminio Before he became Treasurer, Shylock was may be room for compromise on the matter Disini, and contractor Rodolfo Cuenco. a heartless usurer on the Rialto where of his travel to a third country. Also former armed forces chief Gen.