Aquino Orders Arrest of Pair Loyal to Marcos

MANILA — The Aquino government today ordered the arrest of two legislators loyal to former President Ferdinand E. Marcos and disbanded a Marcos-created police force notorious for human rights violations during the martial law years.

As President Corazon Aquino moved to dismantle the power structure Marcos used during his 20-year rule, commanders of a 20,000-strong Islamic guerrilla army fighting for autonomy in the southern Philippines became the first rebel leaders to agree to peace talks with the new government.

The move came as Aquino, 53, prepared to preside over her crucial first Cabinet meeting Wednesday. Presidential spokesman Rene Saguisag said the agenda will include discussions of proposals that the Aquino regime declare itself a revolutionary government, abolish the National Assembly and draft a new constitution.

Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile directed police to arrest Parliament Members Orlando Dulay and Arturo Pacificador, majority floor leader, on charges linked to violence during the fraud-tainted presidential election Feb. 7.

Dulay and Pacificador are believed to be in hiding.

Murder, Kidnaping, Rape

Pacificador was accused of involvement in the killing of former Gov. Evelio Javier in the central Philippine province of Antique last month and charged by the Justice Ministry in the massacre of seven others on the eve of the May 14, 1984, parliamentary polls.

Dulay, a former army general, has been accused of involvement in the kidnaping, murder and rape of several women whose decapitated bodies were found floating in a river in the northern province of Quirino after the election.

Brig. Gen. Renato de Villa, acting chief of the Philippine Constabulary, announced today the disbanding of the Metropolitan Police Command and its replacement with a smaller Capital Regional Command.

Initially a group of 300 men taken from the Constabulary in 1967 to fight crime, the Metropolitan Police Command created under Marcos grew to a force of 1,700 and became a major force in enforcing the proclamation of martial law in 1972. The command was known for human rights violations during the eight years of martial law.

In another development, three leaders of the Islamic Moro National Liberation Front arrived in Manila from Malaysia to set the groundwork for a visit Friday by top leaders who will hold talks aimed at ending a bloody, 14-year separatist movement.