Endorses Aquino, ‘Still Trembling’ : Marcos Area Plays It Cautious
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LAOAG, Philippines — Members of the political hierarchy of Ilocos Norte, the home province of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, argued among themselves Friday over how far to go in pledging support for the government of Corazon Aquino.
There were angry words, accusations of disloyalty to Marcos, even tearful reminiscences. But at the end of an emotional meeting of the party provincial board, the pledge of support was rammed through by acting Gov. Roque Ablan Jr.
Ablan declared himself the legal successor as governor to Marcos’ son, Ferdinand (Bong Bong) Marcos Jr., who fled the country Tuesday with the deposed president. Then he summoned the provincial board and all the mayors of Ilocos Norte to endorse a message that he had sent to Aquino on Thursday. It said:
“After conferring with the leaders of Ilocos Norte, and in line with your program for reconciliation, we shall support your administration for good government and for the benefit of the people.”
‘We Are Cooperating’
Some of the politicians, particularly Mayor Rodolfo Farinas of Laoag, the provincial capital, raised questions about the haste with which the statement had been drawn up, but Ablan said: “We are not surrendering. We are cooperating.”
Farinas said: “It was never my intent not to recognize Mrs. Aquino. Now more than ever we (the KBL party formerly headed by Marcos) need to be united.”
But outside the meeting room he told a reporter: “We don’t plan to resist, but it is not urgent that we speak out now. We’re still trembling (over Marcos’ departure). There may be a statement from President Marcos in Hawaii. We could wait a few days.”
Things had been going like clockwork for Ablan until Farinas’ surprise arrival at the meeting. Farinas and his armed bodyguards had been detained in Manila on Wednesday, suspected of being there to assassinate Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile, and perhaps Aquino herself. News of his release had not reached Laoag.
The meeting started with Ablan passing a microphone to a succession of mayors to hail their departed president and approve the statement on Aquino. In turn, they pledged their loyalty to Ablan, who was vice governor until the flight of the Marcos family.
“They are supporting the statement through me,” Ablan whispered to a reporter seated beside him.
Asked what he would do if the exiled president’s son should return, he said: “If Gov. Marcos comes back before his term is over, I will give it to him. I just want the people to know that I am here to take care of them.”
The mayors outdid themselves in praise of the deposed president, and what they called the sacrifice of his exile. The mayor of Batac compared Marcos to King Solomon, and said he had spared the Philippines rather than divide it. “That is the legacy he left us,” she said.
A few gave in grudgingly. “Well, the people have spoken, and we have to follow the mandate,” one said. “As local officials, we have to do what we can until people’s power kicks us out, or Aquino does.”
Vote May Be Delayed
The new president has suggested that she will put off the local elections scheduled for May and simply appoint new local officials when the incumbents’ terms expire.
The prospect of town halls in Ilocos Norte being run by Aquino supporters is galling to the men who have controlled this province for two decades. When they spoke of unity Friday, the emphasis was on party unity, not national reconciliation.
“We could afford factionalism when we were in power,” Farinas said. “All of us were trying to get closest to the top, to Marcos. But now. . . . ?”
While the mayors spoke, Ablan was busy on the phone, or giving orders to aides. “Get the military chiefs over here,” he said, “and see if the bishop will talk with me.”
Army Meeting Reported
Reports in the Manila press that Ilocos military leaders had met to discuss holding out against the new armed forces leadership could not be confirmed.
Ablan said, as a helicopter passed overhead, “See, we still have soldiers and armor and helicopters up here, but we do not choose to use them. We will help the new administration, but we are one.”
Ablan also translated for the reporter the remarks of some of the officials, who spoke in the Ilocano language. “That’s Antonio Tarnate, the mayor of Adams,” he said. “This guy gave zero to Cory (Aquino, in the election). He says he’ll cooperate.”
Several of the Ilocos Norte mayors “gave zero.” Their towns gave 100% of their vote to Marcos.
Many of the speeches were emotional. For 20 years the president’s men in the Ilocos provinces have been close to the seat of power. Each had his memories of Marcos.
Ablan himself broke down for a moment, his voice choking and tears coming to his eyes. He passed the microphone to another speaker and composed himself.
Tears for Marcos
“I was just telling them that when I lost my father I did not cry, but when he (Marcos) left I cried like a baby,” he said, the tears coming again.
A member of the provincial board said, “We may wait for generations to come to find a leader like Marcos again.”
After the appearance of Mayor Farinas, who questioned how loyal to Marcos some of the people present were, there was a show of temper. Assemblyman Antonio Raquiza, a longtime loyalist, recounted incidents in which he said he risked his life for Marcos, but concluded, “If we allow this tension to go on it may result in internecine strife that would defeat the purpose of the president’s departure.”
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