Plot to Oust Aquino Foiled, Enrile Asserts

Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile said Thursday that the Philippine military has uncovered a plot by forces loyal to ousted former President Ferdinand E. Marcos to overthrow the government of President Corazon Aquino.

Enrile said in a speech to a Manila polo club that the plotters planned to move either before or during Aquino’s scheduled trip to the United States next month.

Quoting from what he said was a well-documented report, Enrile said the targets of the plot include not only Aquino but also Vice President Salvador Laurel and Gen. Fidel V. Ramos, the armed forces chief of staff, as well as himself and “40 other key civilian and military officials.”

“On the day of the operation,” he said, “we are supposed to be kidnaped by heavily armed commando teams.” He said the plotters intended to hold them hostage in Ilocos Norte, Marcos’ home province, while they make “a simultaneous assault” on the presidential palace, key military installations and communications centers.

He said the Marcos forces planned to tell the public that “this bold adventure is necessary to purportedly save the country from Communist domination.” But their real goal, he said, is “to prepare the way for a return of former President Marcos somewhere in the north on the same day.”

There has been a spate of rumors that Enrile himself is plotting a coup against Aquino, but he insisted Thursday that neither he nor his supporters in the military will support any plot against the government.

“Let there be no doubt in the minds of our people,” he said, “that the Defense Ministry and the armed forces of the Philippines shall firmly uphold the authority of the present government at all times. We shall challenge any attempts, be they from leftist or rightist quarters, to overthrow the government by force.”

Marcos, who has been in exile in Hawaii since Enrile and Ramos led a coup that brought Aquino to power last February, had no immediate comment on Enrile’s remarks.

Enrile first reported the alleged plot at Wednesday’s weekly Cabinet meeting. According to several Cabinet sources, President Aquino directed him to verify the report, which was said to have originated with military intelligence, before making it public.

Aquino Not Worried

In her bimonthly national television program Wednesday night, President Aquino said she has no fear of a coup “because the people will not support it.”

Some government sources said that Enrile’s speech seemed to be an effort to justify his refusal to join Aquino on her trip to the United States, which is scheduled to begin Sept 15.

The president asked Enrile to accompany her to San Francisco, Boston, New York and Washington, where she is scheduled to address a joint session of Congress and meet with President Reagan, but he declined. According to Enrile aides, he told her that there was no need for him to accompany her, that his presence might overshadow hers and that he should stay behind to look after security.

In June, Marcos loyalists took over the Manila Hotel in an effort to seize control of the government. More than 300 soldiers deserted and joined the plotters, but there was little popular support and the incident ended 36 hours after it began.

Vows Severe Treatment

The government has still taken no legal action against the plotters, and pro-government newspapers and magazines have accused the president and Enrile of being too soft on them.

After his speech Thursday, Enrile vowed to deal severely with anyone linked to the alleged plot timed for next month’s presidential trip.

“We are looking at this document to identify the people involved,” he said. “If there is any reality to this plan, then you can be sure that we will undertake counteraction.”

Enrile emphasized that he does not consider the Marcos loyalists “a long-range challenge to our national security.” He said that they are a “nagging problem that never seems to go away” and that they are causing “anxiety among our people.” But he insisted that the Marcos people are “a passing breeze” that the military can easily control.