Monday, February 24, 1986/The Battalion/Page 5
Rebels gaining strength
(continued from page 1)
and demanded his resignation. They
said Marcos had cheated Aquino out
of victory in the Feb. 7 presidential
election and that she should be al
lowed to take over as president.
Thousands of people poured into
the streets around Camp Crame,
where Enrile, Ramos and their sup
porters were entrenched. Marines
loyal to Marcos had dispersed seve
ral hundred civilians in a dawn as
sault Monday at Camp Aguinaldo,
across the street from Camp Crame,
but they did not move against the
massive crowd that some estimated
at 60,000 people.
There also were crowds near the
palace.
Enrile, in a radio broadcast over
Radio Veritas after Marcos ap
peared on television, urged people
to stay in the streets in support of the
rebels. “We have to fight for our
country now,” Enrile said. “We need
to organize so we can fight Marcos
and get him out.”
Radio Veritas, the Roman Catho
lic church station, put Enrile and Ra
mos on the air and they claimed that
“tyranny” had been defeated. An an
nouncer at the station, which has
been a staunch critic of Marcos, then
said Marcos was leaving the country.
Aquino, also in a broadcast on Ra
dio Veritas, said she had been told
Marcos had left the country and
would stop in Guam.
It was then that Marcos went on
Channel 4 to deny those reports.
“Don’t believe any of these sto
ries,” said Marcos, calling the reports
“propaganda lies they are peddling
through the airwaves.”
“They are completely without ba
sis. They are intended to frighten
our people.”
He then ordered the armed forces
to “use all necessary force” to defend
their installations.
He directed troopers to use small
arms to defend themselves, but said
large weapons like tanks and ar
mored personnel carriers should not
be employed “as yet.”
“I appeal to civilians to get out of
the line of fire,” Marcos said. “We
are in a state of emergency, and the
government gives notice to all public
utilities that they can be taken over
by the government. This is not mar
tial law, this is an emergency situa
tion.”
Associated Press reporter Reuben
G. Alebastro said rebel troops were
deployed around the Channel 4
building, which is several miles from
Marcos’ palace.
People at the scene told Alebastro
they had heard gunfire in the area,
and he overheard one rebel soldier
reporting to an officer that some of
his men had been wounded.
An Associated Press correspon
dent said some soldiers at the presi
dential palace were wearing white
armbanos, but they refused to talk
with journalists. Rebels have said sol
diers wishing to surrender or join
the revolt should wear white bands.
At Camp Crame, reporters were
unable to reach Ramos and Enrile
after the Marcos broadcast. But Col.
R. O. Odi told the AP that their ear
lier claims concerning the collapse of
Marcos’ government were “opti
mistic statements, based on the hope
that the people will stay out on the
streets to block any attempt by Mar
cos troops to come to the camp.”
Earlier, Radio Veritas had broad
cast announcements by Enrile and
Ramos announcing what they called
“the real story of the successful revo
lution.”
In Washington, President Reagan
met with top foreign policy advisers
and, in his strongest message yet to
Marcos, threatened to cut off U.S.
military aid if Marcos used force
against his opponents.
White House spokesman Larry
Speakes said Sunday evening, “The
president appealed earlier today to
President Marcos to avoid an attack
against other elements of the Phil
ippine armed forces. Regrettably,
there are now reports of an attack.”
“Don’t believe any of these
stories. They are com
pletely without basis.
They are intended to
frighten our people. ”
— Ferdinand Marcos,
commenting Monday on
radio reports he had lied
the Philippines.
Speakes said Reagan sent Marcos
a message through diplomatic chan
nels saying America “cannot con
tinue our existing military assistance
if the government uses that aid
against other elements of the Phil
ippine military that enjoy popular
backing.”
An official at the U.S. Embassy
said, “I don’t have any confirmation
that he (Marcos) has left.” He added
that events are “more fluid this
morning than they were yesterday.”
The official, contacted by phone,
spoke on condition of anonymity.
In Washington, U.S. State Depart
ment spokesman Warren Magruder
said, “We’ve heard those reports (of
Marcos leaving) too, but we can’t
confirm them.”
Government television continued
to broadcast hours-old statements by
Marcos on its regular news program.
Manila Cardinal Jaime Sin, with
out acknowledging the possible suc
cess of the rebellious forces, urged
Radio Veritas’ listeners to be calm.
“Thank the Lord we are still al
ive,” he said.
At 6 a.m., marines evidently act
ing under Marcos’ orders attacked
opposition supporters who were act
ing as a human barricade around
two suburban Manila military bases
where the rebels have been en
trenched since Saturday.
Using tear gas and truncheons,
the marines entered Camp Agui
naldo, but not Camp Crame across
the street, where Ramos and Enrile
have set up their rebel headquarters.
Associated Press reporter Alex
Caw said at about the time of the
military attack on Camp Aguinaldo,
hundreds of soldiers cheered and a
crowd outside applauded as defect
ing air force men arrived aboard
seven helicopters at Camp Crame.
In the first flight of four helicopt
ers to land, a man aboard one waved
a white flag and about 24 military
men left the aircraft as rebel national
police manning the headquarters
camp applauded.
Air force officials refused com
ment on the helicopters’ arrival, but
a police sergeant, Eduardo Sanchez,
said the air force men had come “to
protect General Ramos and Minister
Enrile.”
Marcos went on television at mid
night Sunday and accused Enrile
and Ramos of seeking power for
themselves rather than for Aquino,
the opposition leader.
Enrile and Ramos have insisted
since they began their rebellion Sat
urday that Marcos stole the special
presidential election by fraud and
demanded he step down.
Enrile told reporters he talked
with Marcos by telephone Sunday
and planned to talk with him again
“to convince him that the matter has
reached a point where the bottom
line is for him to step down.”
Enrile said he rejected an offer
from Marcos of amnesty from pros
ecution in exchange for surrender.
Aquino, who was in Cebu City in
the central Philippines when the re
bellion began, lef t Sunday for an un
disclosed location. Before leaving,
she told reporters she would at some
point visit Enrile and Ramos at their
camp, and called on “decent el
ements” of the armed forces to sup
port them.
Jaime Ongpin, a businessman
close to the Aquino camp, said a pro
posal was made for a committee of
two generals from each side and a
mediator to try to negotiate an end
to the standoff.
Enrile and Ramos have said they
won’t start a battle with pro-Marcos
troops but if attacked will fight back
to the death.
In an interview on NBC’s “Meet
the Press,” Marcos said he had the
support of more than 90 percent of
the military.
But Ramos, speaking on ABC’s
“This Week,” said he and Enrile
were supported by some members of
Marcos’ palace guard. Some staff of
armed forces chief Gen. Fabian Ver.
Ramos said Saturday that 90 percent
of the Philippines Constabulary,
which he heads, also support him.
Marcos, asked on “Meet the Press”
if he would arrest Ramos and Enrile,
replied, “We will quietly put them
aside ... if they survive what may be
a bloody confrontation.”
SEMESTER IN SPAIN
Not just for Spanish majors only, but for everyone: beginners, “in between”
students, and advanced. Put some excitement into your college career!!
BEGINNER OR ADVANCED - Cost is about the
same as a semester in a U.S. college:$3,670.
Price includes jet round trip to Seville from
New York, room, board, and tuition com
plete. Government grants and loans may be
applied towards our programs.
F-9
Live with a Spanish family, attend classes
four hours a day, four days a week, four
months. Earn 16 hrs. of credit (equivalent to 4
semesters taught in U.S. colleges over a two
year time span). YourSpanish studies will be
enhanced by opportunities not available in a
U.S. classroom. Standardized tests show our
students' language skills superior to students
completing two year programs in U.S.
Advanced courses also.
college you attend
your present street address
If you would like Information on future programs give
permanent address below.
Hurry, it takes a lot of time to make all ar
rangements.
SPRING SEMESTER — Jan. 30 - May 29
FALL SEMESTER — Aug. 29 - Dec. 19
each year.
FULLY ACCREDITED —A Program of Trinity
Christian College.
For full information — send coupon to:
SEMESTER IN SPAIN
your permanent street address
2065 Laraway Lake Drive S.E. F-9
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506
(A Program of Trinity Christian College)
Center for Retailing Studies
INVITED LECTURE SERIES
Bob Marbut
President and Chief Executive Officer
Harte-Hanks Communication, Inc.
'Retailing & Print Media - A New Ballgame ;
Tuesday, February 25 9:30-10:30 a.m,
Room 102, John R. Blocker Building
Reception following in Room 613A Blocker
«K
Students, Faculty & Members of the Community Invited
MSC All Night Fair
celebrates
150 years of Texas
with
Miller and KORA
March 8
5 p.m.-2 a.m.
Memorial Student
Center
Featuring
The Executives
l-tex
Bobolinks
5-8 p.m.
7-11 p.m
10 p.m.-2 a.m
Carnival Booths • Dancing • Hayrides
Contests & Prizes • BBQ Cafe
Battalion Classified 845-2611