Witnesses Missing, Manila Trial Halted

The trial of the Philippines’ armed forces chief, Gen. Fabian C. Ver, and 25 others in the 1983 murder of opposition leader Benigno S. Aquino Jr. was unexpectedly suspended Wednesday when the prosecutor ran out of witnesses.

Prosecutor Manuel Herrera said six witnesses scheduled to testify this week have not been located, two were not ready to testify and a third would probably not be called because he has retracted earlier testimony.

“We will be exerting extra efforts again to find their whereabouts,” Herrera said after calling only one witness to the stand.

Chief Justice Manuel Pamaran of the special court trying the case suspended the fourth day of hearings when Herrera said he had no more witnesses to call. The trial was scheduled to resume Monday.

“The case is considerably weakened if they cannot get these people,” said Bienvenido Tan, public coordinator of the civilian panel whose findings led to the indictments.

Killed at Airport

Aquino was shot to death at the Manila airport Aug. 21, 1983, moments after leaving an airliner as he returned from three years of self-exile in the United States.

The military contends that he was killed on the airport tarmac by Rolando Galman, who was himself slain by soldiers moments later. The prosecution says Aquino was killed by a soldier on the airliner staircase.

The six civilian witnesses, employed at the airport at the time of the slaying, have left their jobs and moved without giving forwarding addresses.

“They’re quite afraid,” Tan said. “If I were the witness, why would I testify at this stage, knowing how belligerent the army is. . . knowing that the administration is not happy about the results.”

All 26 defendants are charged in both the Aquino and Galman slayings.

Ver and seven others are charged as accessories for attempting to cover up the crime and face maximum 20-year sentences. A civilian charged as an accomplice faces a life term, and 17 others indicted as principals may be sentenced to death.