Marcos Fires His Foreign Affairs Chief

MANILA — President Ferdinand E. Marcos fired Foreign Minister Arturo Tolentino today, accusing him of taking stands that were “incompatible with those of the party and the government.”

A presidential palace announcement also said that Marcos has asked another member of his Cabinet, Labor Minister Blas Ople, to explain statements he made in recent speeches about the country’s political system being “heavily dependent on patronage.”

The announcement quoted Marcos as telling Tolentino in a letter that he had “no other choice” but to relieve the foreign minister, the only government official who has publicly opposed some of Marcos’ policies.

Tolentino, 74, was named foreign minister last June.

Incompatible Positions

The palace said his dismissal was triggered by disagreement between Marcos and Tolentino over Foreign Ministry appointments, which it described as “the latest of such ‘incompatible’ positions” taken by Tolentino.

A Manila newspaper reported Tolentino had opposed a Marcos order extending the services of two Foreign Ministry officials who were long past the mandatory retirement age.