U.S. Role in Philippines

Professional Marcos-haters find it fashionable to hurl brickbats at the Philippine leader and seem to believe that anybody, Communists included, are a better alternative to a tried and true ally like Ferdinand Marcos.

It is a sad commentary and a bad reflection on Washington officialdom to see some of our policy-makers actively and deliberately meddling in Philippine affairs. If Marcos goes, who can they put up to supplant the popular and legendary Philippine war hero? Salvador Laurel? Cory Aquino? Are they strong enough politically to weld a diverse country together? Even now the fragmented opposition groups are systematically destroying each other. One thing is certain: The opposition in the Philippines is more leftist than it is pro-American. Time and time again they have restated that it is their policy to remove U.S. bases from Philippine soil.

It was, therefore, refreshing and stimulating to read recently that our great fellow American, the Rev. Jerry Falwell, had visited the Philippines on his own and came back with a sincere and honest appraisal of the situation like it is.

Falwell stated bluntly that if the Philippines fell to the Communists, “forget it--there will never be another election, and neither the United States nor anybody else will ever, ever liberate the country.” It is therefore necessary that we Americans help Marcos fight the Communist insurgency.

Give him what we owe the Philippines by way of compensating use of their bases. The U.S. government must do “whatever is necessary” to stop the spread of communism, not only in Central America but more importantly in the Philippines whose strategic air and naval bases we urgently need.

I join Falwell in praising Marcos for calling an election early next year although he is mandated to serve as president until 1987. After the elections are over, indeed “The U.S. has an obligation to stop bellyaching and get in behind the Republic of the Philippines with unswerving support.”

As an American officer who fought as an Army commando under guerrilla Maj. Ferdinand E. Marcos, I can attest to his love for freedom and democracy. He has that Filipino virtue of “UTANG NA LOOB” (gratitude) even if sometimes we Americans forget the word. Marcos shed his blood for the democratic ideal--by fighting for America and under the U.S. flag in the last war, something that the older generation seems to have forgotten and a fact that today’s generation does not know.

LARRY O. GUZMAN

Los Angeles