Marcos Phoned Tolentino Just Before Revolt

Deposed President Ferdinand E. Marcos, who has denied any part in a short-lived rebellion led by Arturo Tolentino, telephoned advice to Tolentino just before the revolt, according to a report received by the Defense Ministry.

Hotel operators listened to the telephone call, Defense Ministry spokesman Silvestre Afable said today. The operators quoted Marcos as suggesting that Tolentino, his running mate in the fraud-tainted Feb. 7 elections, use the Manila Hotel as a base for his self-proclaimed government, Afable said.

About 30 minutes after the reported call Sunday, Tolentino proclaimed himself acting president, and along with about 300 soldiers, launched a 38-hour challenge to the government of President Corazon Aquino. The rebellion ended Tuesday when participants left the hotel.

Cited Marcos’ Orders

Tolentino claimed all along that he was acting on Marcos’ orders. But Marcos denied Tuesday in Honolulu that he knew anything about the revolt before it began.

Manila Hotel supervisor Vic Sison said today that at least seven calls were made between the hotel and telephone numbers in Hawaii, where Marcos has lived since he was ousted in a civilian-backed military revolt in February.

Sison, who said he had all the calls monitored by hotel operators, said two calls from Tolentino’s room asked specifically for Marcos’ wife, Imelda.

Sison said Tolentino’s room received a call from Hawaii at 5 p.m. Sunday and that two or three people in Tolentino’s hotel room made a series of at least six subsequent calls to three telephone numbers in Hawaii. He said all the numbers apparently are linked to the former president and his wife.

Asked about Afable’s statement, Sison said he could not quote precisely what was said in the calls. He said the content of some of the conversations might be available after military officials interview the telephone operators Saturday.