Aquino Pledges Aid in Strike at U.S. Bases

President Corazon Aquino met with U.S. officials today and pledged to intervene in the 10-day-old strike by Filipino workers at eight U.S. military installations.

Philippine soldiers fired warning shots today to prevent another clash between striking base workers and local bar girls and vendors angered because of money lost during the strike, which has kept the servicemen confined to their bases. The strikers and vendors clashed Sunday.

As tension mounted at picket lines, Aquino discussed the strike with Adm. William Crowe, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and U.S. Ambassador Stephen Bosworth at the presidential palace guest house.

“President Aquino said she would address the labor problem at Clark and Subic (Bay Naval Base),” the government said. “There is a treaty obligation on the part of the Philippines to allow access to the bases.”

Protest Planned

Meanwhile, 80 former lawmakers from the political party of deposed President Ferdinand E. Marcos said they will convene a symbolic National Assembly session April 14 to protest Aquino’s decision last week to abolish the body.

The lawmakers also formed a committee to study a Supreme Court challenge to Aquino’s edict.

Also today, military officials in Cagayan de Oro said two bands of renegade militiamen who were upset by the government’s decision to disband their units have deserted and taken weapons to the hills to fight communist rebels.

The officials said one of two bands of paramilitary forces that deserted during the last week ambushed communist rebels at a roadblock in the mountains of Mindanao island, killing six guerrillas and seizing their weapons.