Marcos Hints He’ll Order Martial Law; 2 Envoys Recalled

President Ferdinand E. Marcos today hinted he might impose martial law to deal with an opposition campaign of civil unrest, and Spain and West Germany recalled their ambassadors from Manila.

In other international reaction to the widely discredited Feb. 7 presidential election, a Marcos spokesman said new Soviet Ambassador Vadim I. Shabalin had “informally congratulated” the president, who will encourage the expansion of trade with the Soviet Union.

New Zealand Prime Minister David Lange, however, said he will not congratulate Marcos on his reelection because of “serious doubts about the credibility” of the voting.

Foreign Ministry sources confirmed that they had received no other letters of congratulations for Marcos from foreign heads of state.

Western diplomats confirmed reports that the ambassadors of West Germany and Spain had been called home for consultations and said the moves could have a “snowball effect.”

Will Exercise Powers

In a caucus meeting that ended early today, Marcos said he would “exercise to the limit” his constitutional powers to prevent civil unrest, a comment opposition leaders interpreted as a threat of martial law.

“I will not do anything that violates the law and the constitution but I will exercise to the limit the provisions of the law and the constitution to prevent turmoil,” said Marcos, adding that he had “certain powers” to halt civil disobedience.

Opposition member of Parliament Homobono Adaza said Marcos was threatening martial law.

“I think Marcos’ last option to cope with or quell any civil disturbance is martial law,” Adaza said. “Knowing Marcos, he will not wait more than 30 days to declare it.”

Habib a Factor

Adaza said Marcos would have to crack down before things got out of control but would wait until President Reagan’s special envoy Philip C. Habib leaves.

“I don’t think there will be an outbreak of violence within 15 days, but after Habib is gone and President Reagan has made his final assessment, Marcos could make his move,” he said.

Former Sen. Ernesto Maceda, an adviser to opposition leader Corazon Aquino, agreed Marcos could impose martial law in two or three weeks, but if “he arrests people and declares martial law, it will be a confirmation of our victory.”

But another Aquino spokesman, Rene Saguisag, said Marcos cannot legally impose martial law in reaction to nonviolent civil disobedience. “It will be peaceful as far as we are concerned,” Saguisag said.

International Outcast

Aquino and her vice presidential running mate, Salvador Laurel, who are seeking to make Marcos an international outcast, took their campaign of nonviolent protest to a rally near the huge U.S. Clark Air Base today.

They ruled out any compromise with Marcos and predicted that he will be toppled within three months.

Aquino said that in her meeting Monday with Habib, “I told him if I have to cooperate with Marcos, never mind, don’t visit me.”

Aquino told a crowd of about 7,000 people in the town of Angeles, 60 miles north of Manila, that she will never agree to a new election and will meet with Japanese and West European diplomats Thursday to seek recognition for her own government.

“We will ask them: ‘Are we not your friends? Do you not believe that Aquino and Laurel won the election?’ ”