Aquino’s Foes, Allies Denounce End of Assembly

MANILA — Members of Parliament, both friends and foes of President Corazon Aquino, today denounced her abolition of the National Assembly as a step toward dictatorship and said they may convene in April as scheduled.

The New Society Movement (KBL), the shattered party of deposed President Ferdinand E. Marcos, met with Aquino’s parliamentary supporters in an effort to shape a united front.

Neither the KBL, fragmented since Marcos fled to Hawaii, nor the new president’s allies seemed clear as to how to challenge Tuesday’s proclamation or whether they could do anything jointly. But there was support for the idea of ignoring the fact that the National Assembly had been dissolved.

At separate press conferences, leaders of the KBL and the pro-Aquino UNIDO coalition said they may defy her and meet next month.

KBL spokesman Fernando Veloso said they did not challenge Aquino’s right to the presidency “by virtue of events and because Marcos has defaulted.”

But, he said, “we are willing to defy arrest and assemble as scheduled in April, pass bills and legislate as usual even if no one signs them.”

Homobono Adaza, a spokesman for Aquino’s parliamentary supporters, told reporters: “It is the belief of everyone that the investing of overwhelming power in a single person in government will not be for the best interest of the Filipino people.”

The Aquino government seemed unworried by their threat to convene. Presidential Executive Secretary Joker Arroyo told reporters: “They can convene. There is nothing to stop them. That’s freedom of expression.”

The 190-seat single-chamber Assembly, elected in May, 1984, was dominated by the KBL and a dozen Marcos-appointed members. UNIDO had about 60 members, and Adaza said nearly 50 of them supported their campaign, including an uncle of Aquino and a brother of Vice President Salvador Laurel.

Aquino takes more powers, Page 9.